'So this is the trial projection...' Su Chen examined it closely. According to the voice in his ear, his next task was to fight this thing.
The various rules and explanations provided by the system were extrely long. Since this was his first ti setting his rank, he couldn't skip them and could only listen quietly.
It took a full ten minutes before the voice finally finished.
"It has no fixed power level. Every technique and bit of strength it displays will be collected to serve as an anchor, acting as a training projection for others to challenge," Su Chen muttered.
"Precautions explained. Scanning complete. No trace of potion usage detected on the target. The battle will begin in 3, 2, 1..."
The mont the countdown ended, Su Chen's brow twitched. The training projection shot forward without warning, as if launched by an invisible catapult, leaving a blurry afterimage in its wake.
Its right arm had already finished charging during the dash. A blinding stream of white energy spun violently, compressing the surrounding light and emitting a piercing shriek as it thrust straight toward Su Chen's face.
However, its speed wasn't particularly fast. Su Chen shifted his feet slightly, easily dodging to the side.
But he soon realized that the entity's speed was increasing.
In a split second, it pivoted and attacked again. Before the strike even landed, the highly compressed vanguard of energy crashed forward like a solid wall, viciously whipping Su Chen's bangs backward.
After Su Chen dodged once more, his opponent's speed surged yet again.
'Its speed keeps increasing, right until it hits my upper limit...'
Su Chen pondered for a mont before suddenly calling out, "Pause."
"Battles lasting less than one minute will not be included in the statistical data..."
The training projection's figure abruptly froze.
Su Chen asked, "If I use an ability that causes continuous lingering effects on the enemy, will that be recorded as well?"
He needed to ask clearly to avoid any future troubles.
"It will be recorded," the system replied. "However, an additional warning will be provided before the battle."
"Understood. Let's continue." Su Chen nodded, his eyes flickering as a plan ford in his mind. He was much better at explosive, burst-damage techniques rather than prolonged battles.
"It's rare to get a chance to go all out." Su Chen cracked his neck. Dodging the training projection's assault once again, crimson flas ignited across his skin as he activated his Life Burner ability.
As the strength was squeezed from his flesh and blood, his Ravager class also kicked into effect. His heart pounded with increasing ferocity, sending boiling power surging through his entire body.
Holy Hand Enhancent—[Aura of the Law Lord]. In an instant, a brilliant light erupted from Su Chen's eyes. Surging spiritual power brazenly poured out, faintly sketching a blurry human face in the void. It bore a resemblance to Su Chen but exuded a far more majestic aura.
The apparition suddenly slamd into the training projection's body, causing it to stutter, as if the system was analyzing the potential effects of this ability.
Su Chen hadn't tested this ability since awakening it. He didn't know who would challenge his projection in the future, but they were certainly in for a treat.
Holy Hand Enhancent—[Calamity Lord]. Su Chen didn't stop moving. He drained his stamina, converting it into spiritual power, while the nutrients stored by his Glutton ability rapidly replenished the deficit.
Boom!
The black lightning surrounding him suddenly grew wild, spewing from every pore like a viscous tide of ink. It continuously radiated a gloomy darkness that swallowed all light. Behind him, a statue entirely forged from flowing black lightning faintly materialized.
It was profoundly dark and abyssal, with only two narrow slits cracked open where its eyes should be. It extended its slender arms, overlapping perfectly with Su Chen.
Boom!
Lightning violently surged and exploded. Su Chen's pupils transford into pitch-black abysses, and a domain spread out around him, faintly distorting the light near his body.
Holy Hand Enhancent—[Calamity Seal]. Su Chen forcefully clasped his hands together in front of his chest. Between his interlocking fingers, the thick, tangible black lightning was frantically compressed, faintly transforming into a series of black symbols.
A rapidly collapsing dark point ford between his palms, tearing and sucking in the surrounding light, sound, and even the stability of space itself.
When his charging reached its peak, Su Chen's figure suddenly vanished. He seed to transform into a streak of black light, pushing his speed to the absolute limit. When he reappeared, he was already behind the training projection.
He thrust both palms forward. There was no deafening explosion, only a low, drawn-out tearing sound, like a heavy curtain being forcefully ripped apart.
A torrent of pure black energy, condensed to the extre, erupted from his palms in the shape of a massive spiral cone. Holding nothing back, the entirety of the blast surged into the training projection's body.
Then, using the special ability of the Calamity Lord, he detonated it!
Boom!
Endless torrents of violent black lightning burst forth from within the training projection!
Outside the room, Wei Zhenghong stood expressionless. Beside him, Deacon Deng was dripping with cold sweat. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced back at the growing crowd that had gathered.
"Martial Uncle Wei, those people in the back have nothing to do with . I've been standing right here; I haven't had ti to notify any outsiders," Deacon Deng explained cautiously.
"I know," Wei Zhenghong replied coolly.
"Senior Brother Wei..." Soone suddenly spoke from behind. Without even turning his head, Wei Zhenghong said coldly, "ng Shiyu... you certainly are well-inford."
"I just happened to be in the area. When I heard our new Star Seed was coming to set his rank, I ca over specifically to take a look."
A thin man squeezed out from the crowd. He had slanted eyes and a pointed chin. Although he wore a smile on his face, it sent a slight chill down one's spine.
"Our new Star Seed is truly extraordinary. I'm guessing he will definitely claim the top spot among the fourth-tier professionals," ng Shiyu said, his tone laced with apparent flattery.
However, Wei Zhenghong sneered, "Su Chen ca from a barren planet. If he could take the top spot among the fourth-tiers the mont he arrived, how are the youngsters in our Sanctum supposed to live with themselves?"
ng Shiyu shook his head. "You can't say that, Senior Brother. Although Su Chen ca from a barren planet, since he was chosen by the Crimson Fla Lightning Venerable and acknowledged by the Ancient King Stele, he must possess extraordinary qualities."
"I believe he will definitely beco the leader of the fourth tier."
Deacon Deng groaned inwardly, secretly regretting that he had taken the shift today.
This ng Shiyu was also in the Sanctum's top one hundred and was one of Qin Tianlin's n. He appeared to be speaking up for Su Chen, but in reality, he was building him up only to tear him down.
Wei Zhenghong's apparent rebuttal was actually an attempt to lower everyone's expectations.
"And if he doesn't, I'll twist your head off. How about that?" Wei Zhenghong turned his head, his voice cold and severe.
ng Shiyu choked on his words. He couldn't help but take a step back, though he quickly forced himself to stand straight again.
Wei Zhenghong remained expressionless, his eyes flickering. Su Chen had already beco the new target drawing everyone's fire.
In other words, as long as Su Chen didn't fall, Qin Yun's gaze wouldn't fall on him. That was one of the reasons why he was doing his best to look after the kid right now.
Of course, it was also because he genuinely had a good impression of Su Chen after their initial contact.
ng Shiyu scoffed inwardly, feeling that he had just lost face. He was about to speak when an exclamation of surprise rang out next to him.
"My ranking just dropped by one place..." The speaker was Wang Ye. He had been imnsely curious whether Su Chen's final ranking would be above or below his own, so he had been constantly refreshing the page.
Until a certain mont, he noticed his rank had changed from 1,452 to 1,453.
"Ah, he really is ranked higher than ..." Wang Ye sighed sowhat dejectedly. Hearing this, a few people nearby looked over, and soone teased, "You haven't even maxed out your class developnt yet. Did you really think this Star Seed would be below you?"
"I was just joking." Wang Ye shrugged, his finger continuing to scroll up the list. He was incredibly curious to see exactly where Su Chen had landed.
"He's not in the top 1,400. Impressive..." Wang Ye scrolled for a bit and couldn't help but marvel.
After scrolling a little longer, Wang Ye grew increasingly astonished. "Wait, I've passed the top 1,000. Where is he? Is he really this fierce?"
2
A fourth-tier professional who could break into the top 1,000 was already considered an elite of the Sanctum.
Hearing this, Wei Zhenghong's eyes flickered. When it ca to the Sanctum Rankings, a difference of even a single placent ant absolute defeat. If you couldn't beat them, you just couldn't beat them.
It took an imnse amount of hard work to bridge the gap of just one rank.
To be able to break into the top 1,000... Wei Zhenghong nodded inwardly. 'For soone who ca from a barren planet, this is already a satisfactory result.'
ng Shiyu frowned slightly, but thinking about it carefully, it wasn't too surprising.
"He's not in the 900s either," Wang Ye said, his brow furrowing deeply. "Not in the 800s either."
His scrolling beca faster and faster. As a fourth-tier professional, his eyesight was impeccable; it was impossible for him to have just missed the na.
"Holy shit, I'm in the 700s!" Wang Ye exclaid. The fourth-tier professionals ranked within the top 700 were basically all preparing to advance to the fifth tier. They were the absolute cream of the crop.
The crowd around him exchanged bewildered glances. This Star Seed truly wasn't an ordinary person.
"Could it be that he actually took the top spot?"
Wang Ye's expression changed slightly, and his movents couldn't help but slow down. At the upper edge of the virtual projection, Lin Lixuan's na had already appeared, yet there was still no sign of Su Chen.
"He really is the leader!"
'Tsk... no wonder he was acknowledged by the Ancient King Stele. To grow up on a barren planet and still possess this kind of strength, truly impressive...'
Wei Zhenghong broke into a grin.
"As expected of a Star Seed," ng Shiyu said, forcing a strained smile.
'Absolutely badass...' Wang Ye marveled inwardly. However, his expression abruptly changed. As he kept scrolling, the next na to appear wasn't Su Chen!
"765... Ji Yunshen, a fifth-tier professional?"
"Where is Su Chen!?" Wang Ye was dumbfounded. Had he missed him?
No, that couldn't be right. Lin Lixuan's ranking had also been pushed down by one spot. He could check the rankings three tis a day; it was impossible for him to misrember.
"Fifth tier? He broke into the fifth tier?" Wang Ye muttered to himself, his eyes widening in disbelief.
A loud hum of noise erupted around them as the crowd buzzed with shock and suspicion, chattering wildly.
A fourth-tier professional had broken into the fifth-tier rankings?
This was extrely rare even within the Bronze Faction. Every single person here had an impeccable class foundation. They weren't like those rogue professionals who were willing to settle for taking on whatever interdiate or advanced classes they could find.
Everyone here belonged to the absolute highest echelon of combat power within their respective tiers. The difficulty of fighting across a whole tier gap was sothing everyone understood perfectly well.
But this new Star Seed...
He was actually this powerful? Wei Zhenghong's expression shifted slightly.
ng Shiyu's face darkened completely.
"Where in the..." Wang Ye's fingers were trembling. The ranking numbers continued to shrink, but Su Chen's na was still nowhere to be seen. The surrounding crowd was still marveling, waiting for Wang Ye to call out the final rank.
Breaking into the fifth-tier rankings, even if he had only surpassed the very last person, was impressive enough.
But as ti passed, the crowd slowly began to sense that sothing was wrong. Soone looked at Wang Ye and noticed his dazed expression, his fingers sliding across the screen chanically.
Until a certain mont, his entire body jolted. His pupils contracted in sheer disbelief. Swallowing hard, he struggled to open his mouth, as if exhausting every ounce of his strength just to hoarsely scream, "Rank... 299! The leader of the fifth tier!"
In an instant, the entire area fell dead silent. Everyone looked as though soone had pressed the pause button on them. They stood frozen on the spot, utterly horrified.
The fifth tier... leader?
Wei Zhenghong's shoulders jerked, and he whipped his head around, undisguised shock plastered across his face as his mind reeled.
Even he found it completely unimaginable. His first thought was actually whether the system had glitched.
The top-tier fifth-tier professionals included scions from major families within the faction, ticulously nurtured from a young age.
There were also old veterans who had been stuck at the fifth tier for a long ti. Because of this, they had taken on nurous special classes, making their true combat power nothing to scoff at.
Yet even so, using only a fourth-tier body, Su Chen had not only broken into the fifth-tier rankings but also claid the absolute top spot among them?
One had to rember, those guys were the most carefully selected talents in the entire faction to begin with!
"How is that possible!" ng Shiyu's face was incredibly ugly. He couldn't believe it. Even he was only ranked 276th! The gap between him and Su Chen was actually less than thirty places?!
Was this guy really that strong?
He clearly only possessed a Dual Ink-Jade talent!
Suddenly, soone in the crowd snapped out of their daze. They hurriedly pulled out their own communication device and opened the leaderboards.
After carefully confirming the numbers, they muttered, "It really is 299. As expected... of a Star Seed."
As expected of a Star Seed.
After the initial wave of shock washed over them, almost everyone present couldn't help but share that exact thought.
"Isn't his talent just Dual Ink-Jade? How could he be so strong?" soone couldn't help but ask.
Wang Ye sneered, "Do you even understand what it ans to be a Star Seed? What it ans to be acknowledged by the Ancient King Stele? You think having an aweso talent makes you invincible? Then tell , why are there so many people on the Talent Rankings who were never chosen?"
"Why are you reacting like that? I was just asking a question..." the guy muttered.
Wang Ye's words were a bit unreasonable, but no one bothered to refute him right now. Their hearts simply couldn't calm down.
"Let's stop here..."
Inside the room, the two figures had beco completely untraceable to the naked eye, accompanied by endless roars of energy fluctuations. Suddenly, a voice rang out, and the training projection abruptly reappeared, stopping dead in its tracks.
"Holy crap." Su Chen also stopped. His clothes were completely shredded. He gasped for air; after bursting out with his strongest technique, the fight had turned into a battle of endurance.
But the training projection's speed had continuously increased. By now, he was already falling behind.
If the fight dragged on any longer, he'd probably get beaten to the ground.
"Battle stopped. Battle duration: 16 minutes. Compiling statistical data. Evaluating... Ranking rising... rising... rising..."
Su Chen shook his body slightly, and a current of azure wind flowed out, blowing away all the sweat on his skin.
However, the system seed to have encountered a glitch. It just kept saying 'rising... rising...'
"Ranking finalized: 299."
As the system's voice faded, a virtual screen materialized in front of him, displaying his exact position on the rankings.
The person ranked directly above him was a sixth-tier professional.
'The strongest of the fifth tier?' Su Chen nodded inwardly, not feeling too surprised. 'These sixth-tier professionals with flawless class foundations aren't going to be so easy to bypass.'
It wasn't just about their tier. With age ca a higher number of special classes they could take on, and this limit increased further at the sixth tier. At the sa ti, they were able to form highly refined ability combinations that provided massive boosts in combat power.
"Still, this should be enough." Su Chen let out a long sigh of relief. He took a brand new set of clothes from his spatial storage and changed into them. After resting for a brief mont, he turned around and walked out of the room.
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