pjbooks Chapter 136 The Ranking of the Great Powerful, Geniuses All Remain Silent
Chapter 136 The Ranking of the Great Powerful, Geniuses All Remain Silent
The freshman area of Longyuan Academy has never been as quiet as it is today.
In the past, the training ground was always the liveliest place in the early morning.
Someone is practicing boxing.
Someone tested the knife.
Some people are gritting their teeth and enduring the gravity field.
Some people were also discussing the top ten strongest people list, arguing about who was stronger, who could enter the top three, and who would be squeezed out in the end-of-month challenge.
But today.
The black monument standing in the center of the new student square was crowded with people, but almost no one spoke.
All eyes were on the third position on the list.
There was originally a name engraved there.
Qin Zhao.
The direct descendants of the Qin family.
Early stage of Grandmaster Realm.
He ranked third on the list of the top ten strongest freshmen at Longyuan Academy.
This name used to carry a lot of weight in the freshman district.
For the vast majority of freshmen, the early stage of the Grandmaster realm is already a level they can only look up to.
Qin Zhao has the Qin family behind him, the Resource Institute lineage, and the patriarch Qin Xuanxiao in charge.
Therefore, many people used to speak of Qin Zhao with a degree of apprehension.
But now.
That name is now grayed out.
It wasn't because someone challenged and removed it from the list.
Instead, he died.
Even more absurdly, Qin Zhao's death has become unimportant after last night's bloodbath at the White Pagoda.
Normally, the sudden death of the third-ranked freshman on the list would be enough to shock the entire freshman district.
But now, no one is discussing how Qin Zhao died.
The question is, how did Qin Xuanxiao die?
How did Qin Yue, the former director of the resource center, die?
How did the outer layer of the White Pagoda collapse?
How could the Blood-Faced Ancient Cultivator have killed a mid-stage Marquis Realm elder in front of the entire Dragon Abyss City?
A freshman whispered:
"I used to think Qin Zhao was already very strong."
"Thinking about it now..."
He didn't continue.
Those around them understood.
powerful?
Compared to the battle at the White Pagoda, what was Qin Zhao?
He, who was supposedly third on the freshman list, didn't even qualify to participate in that battle.
Let alone participate.
Even those near the White Tower battlefield would be crushed by the aftershocks.
A freshman murmured:
"Qin Zhao previously wanted to challenge Lin Yuan and force Lin Yuan to hand over the qualification of the Star Origin Pool."
"Looking back now, it was really courting death."
The other person immediately lowered their voice:
"Don't talk nonsense."
"Lin Yuan himself may not be strong."
"The one who's strong is Senior Blood."
Upon hearing this, many people around fell silent.
Because this is the most subtle consensus in the new student area today.
Lin Yuan was still at the first level of the Qi and Blood Realm.
At least on the surface.
He was not on the list of new students.
He has never revealed his true level of skill to anyone.
The problem is, the Blood-Faced Ancient Cultivator is standing behind him.
A blood-faced ancient cultivator capable of slaying a mid-stage Marquis.
So now no one dares to call Lin Yuan a good-for-nothing anymore.
Even though they still felt that he was just someone being protected, no one dared to say it out loud.
After all, the fate of the Qin family is still there.
……
Song Li stood not far from the monument, her face still a little pale.
She barely slept a wink last night.
As soon as I close my eyes, the scene above the White Pagoda will appear in my mind.
Behind Senior Blood, the crimson lotus flames burned, and an eight-armed, dark gold phantom appeared, shattering Qin Xuanxiao's Mountain and River Marquis Domain with a single punch.
The scene was so stunning.
She was so shocked that even now, when she sees the list of new students, she feels it's somewhat unreal.
"Qinghe".
Song Li's voice was very soft.
"Don't you think we were being ridiculous before?"
Ji Qinghe looked at her.
Song Li pointed to the monument.
"We used to discuss every day who could make it into the top ten, who could challenge Qin Zhao, and who was closer to Ning Wushuang and Chu Tianheng."
"But after last night's battle, I suddenly felt that all of this was like children playing house."
Ji Qinghe remained silent for a moment.
"These things are still important to us."
Song Li was startled.
Ji Qinghe looked at the inscription on the monument, her voice lowering slightly:
"It's just that it doesn't matter to some people anymore."
Song Li knew who she was talking about.
Lin Yuan.
Lin Xiaoya.
Blood-stained elder.
Or rather, the mysterious ancient cultivator who always stood behind them.
Song Li couldn't help but look towards the direction of the Starry Courtyard in the distance.
"Why do you think Senior Blood is so kind to them?"
Ji Qinghe did not answer immediately.
She thought about this problem all night.
Master and disciple?
Protector of the Way?
Blood ties or old ties?
Ancient cultivation tradition?
These explanations all seem plausible.
But they were all just a little short.
The protection that Senior Bloodface provided for Lin Yuan and his sister could not be explained by the standards of an ordinary protector.
Qin Zhaogang provoked, and died.
The guards approached, and died.
Qin Yue was in Lin Xiaoya's dream and died.
Qin Xuanxiao suppressed Bloodface, but also died.
This is not ordinary protection.
This is an almost unreasonable act of protecting one's own.
Song Li whispered:
"I used to think that Lin Yuan was just lucky to be valued by Senior Blood."
"But now, I feel like something's not right."
Ji Qinghe's heart skipped a beat.
"What's wrong?"
Song Li frowned and thought about it seriously.
I can't quite explain it.
"It's just... Lin Yuan is too calm."
"So many people in the Qin family wanted to deal with him, yet he remained calm."
"The White Tower wants to take Xiaoya away, and he remains calm."
"Even after Senior Bloodface killed Qin Xuanxiao, he remained calm."
"Can someone who is being protected really remain so calm?"
Ji Qinghe's fingers tightened slightly.
She had thought of that too.
Even those who are being protected, no matter how powerful their backing, should have emotions.
Scared.
Worry.
tension.
Fortunately.
But Lin Yuan didn't.
He seemed to know the outcome from beginning to end.
It was as if they had never considered those people a threat.
This idea is absurd.
It was so absurd that Ji Qinghe dared not think any further.
She could only whisper:
Don't make wild guesses.
Song Li nodded.
"Too."
"These are things we can't guess."
Neither of them spoke again.
But the doubts in my heart did not dissipate.
……
On the other side.
Ning Wushuang stood at the edge of the training ground.
She was dressed in white battle armor, with a long sword hanging at her waist, and her expression was indifferent.
As the second-ranked freshman, she was once considered a top genius by all the freshmen.
Early stage of Grandmaster Realm.
The direct descendants of the Ning family.
Prospective member of the Enforcement Hall.
Regardless of talent, background, or combat strength, she stands at the forefront of the new students.
But after last night, for the first time, she felt that the so-called second place on the freshman list seemed so insignificant.
A disciple of the Ning family stood behind her and whispered:
"Miss, after Qin Zhao's death, the third place on the memorial tablet became vacant. Someone should be filling it today."
Ning Wushuang said calmly:
"It doesn't matter."
The disciple was stunned for a moment.
Although Ning Wushuang didn't care much about empty fame in the past, she still paid attention to the rankings.
After all, the freshman list is related to resource allocation and the number of places in the end-of-month competition.
But now, she's saying she doesn't care.
Ning Wushuang looked at the monument, her eyes calm yet complex.
"Qin Zhao was once third."
"He's dead."
"Qin Xuanxiao was once a mid-stage Marquis."
"He's dead too."
She turned to look at the disciple.
"Do you think it even matters who's third on the list?"
The disciple opened his mouth, but could not utter a word.
Ning Wushuang looked away.
"The list is meaningful for ordinary students."
"But last night's battle taught us that what truly determines life and death is never the leaderboard."
The image of the eight-armed, dark gold phantom behind the blood shadow appeared in her mind.
Lin Yuan's overly calm face reappeared in the mind's eye.
The doubt in her heart, like that in Ji Qinghe's, grew deeper and deeper.
Who exactly is Lin Yuan?
Is he really just a Qi and Blood Realm Level 1 cultivator protected by the Blood-Faced Ancient Cultivator?
……
Just then, the other end of the new student square suddenly became quieter.
The crowd automatically separated.
A tall, slender young man walked slowly towards them.
He was wearing the dark battle uniform of Longyuan Academy, with the Chu family mark on the cuffs and the Zhenxing Army reserve badge hanging on his shoulder.
His aura was understated.
But as they walked over, everyone instinctively made way.
Chu Tianheng.
He ranked first on the list of the top ten strongest freshmen at Longyuan Academy.
The direct descendants of the Chu family.
Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm.
He is also the only genius among this year's freshmen who was recorded by the Zhenxing Army before enrollment.
He stopped in front of the monument.
His gaze swept over the now-grayed name of Qin Zhao.
His expression remained largely unchanged.
A Chu family student nearby whispered:
"Brother Tianheng, Qin Zhao is dead."
Chu Tianheng said calmly:
"I saw it."
The man continued:
"The third spot on the leaderboard is currently vacant. It's estimated that Ning Wushuang will continue to hold onto second place, and the third spot will likely be chosen from among Bai Yingxue, Zhao Jinghong, and a few others."
Chu Tianheng glanced at him.
"You still care about this?"
The student was immediately embarrassed.
Chu Tianheng looked up and gazed in the direction of the White Pagoda.
Even from a great distance, the collapsed tower could still be faintly seen.
"Qin Zhao wasn't the only one who died last night."
"Qin Xuanxiao is also dead."
"A mid-stage Marquis died in the White Tower, yet you're discussing the third-ranked newcomer."
The Chu family students around him looked rather uneasy.
Chu Tianheng withdrew his gaze, his voice calm:
"Qin Zhao's so-called third place, on that kind of battlefield, is no different from that of an ordinary freshman."
"It's the same for me, who's number one."
These words startled many people around.
He ranked first among the freshmen and said that he was no different from ordinary freshmen on that kind of battlefield.
If someone else had said that, they would have been considered to be belittling themselves.
But when Chu Tianheng said it, it felt like a heavy, real truth.
He was not belittling himself.
They have clearly seen the gap.
A student from the Chu family hesitated for a moment, then whispered:
"Brother Tianheng, what level do you think the Blood-Faced Ancient Cultivator is at?"
Chu Tianheng remained silent for a while.
"At least not a mid-stage ordinary title conferred."
"It doesn't even resemble an ordinary ancient cultivator."
The man was taken aback.
"What do you mean?"
Chu Tianheng did not provide a direct explanation.
He took a document out of his pocket.
The first page of the document contains Lin Yuan's basic information.
Name: Lin Yuan.
Source: Seventh Security Zone.
Surface Realm: First Level of Qi and Blood Realm.
Relative: Lin Xiaoya.
Related figure: Blood-faced Ancient Cultivator.
Chu Tianheng stared at the documents for a long time.
Suddenly asked:
"Do you really think Lin Yuan is only at the first level of the Qi and Blood Realm?"
The people around fell silent at the same time.
Someone hesitated and said:
"But that's exactly what the information says."
Chu Tianheng said:
"The information also states that Qin Zhao is third on the freshman list."
"And now?"
The man fell silent.
Chu Tianheng continued to look through the documents.
When Lin Yuan first enrolled in school, everyone treated him like a good-for-nothing.
"But he withstood five hundred times the weight of the Lungmen Tower."
"He defeated the resource institute instructor by so-called protecting the seal."
"He was always in the core area during the Star Source Pool incident."
"He never panicked once, either before or after the White Pagoda Bloodbath."
"Every time the Blood-Faced Ancient Cultivator appears, it's related to him."
He looked up at the people around him.
"The entire Dragon Abyss City is watching Blood Face."
"But why do I feel like the one we should be looking at most is this boy in the old school uniform?"
Several Chu family students felt their scalps tingle.
One of them whispered:
"Brother Tianheng, you don't mean... you suspect that Lin Yuan's relationship with the Blood-Faced Ancient Cultivator isn't that simple, do you?"
Chu Tianheng said calmly:
"I have no idea."
"But I know one thing."
"Don't treat someone who is so highly regarded by a Marquis-level expert as trash."
"Otherwise, Qin Zhao is an example."
After he finished speaking, he put the documents away.
"From today onwards, new members of the Chu family are not allowed to have any contact with Lin Yuan and his sister."
"If you encounter them, give way."
"If contact is necessary, maintain respect."
Several Chu family students immediately nodded.
Chu Tianheng took one last look at the monument.
"besides."
"Stop talking nonsense about challenging Lin Yuan."
"The challenge you're facing may not be just a freshman."
"It is an abyss that you cannot understand."
……
afternoon.
The outer ring of Longyuan Academy.
Lin Yuan led Lin Xiaoya out of the Star Attribute Courtyard.
Lin Xiaoya, carrying a small bag, walked beside him.
She wanted to go to the university's external affairs office today to pick up some rice and daily necessities.
This is a very common thing.
In the past, almost no one would have paid attention to them.
But things are different today.
As soon as they stepped onto the outer ring stone path, the voices of the nearby students quickly fell silent.
Some people were laughing and joking, but their voices stopped abruptly when they saw Lin Yuan.
Someone recognized Lin Xiaoya from afar, their expression changed slightly, and they subconsciously took a half step back.
On the stone path, the crowd, which was not crowded to begin with, automatically parted to make way for them.
Lin Xiaoya felt a little uncomfortable.
She whispered:
"Brother, why are they all looking at us?"
Lin Yuandao:
"Afraid."
Are you afraid of me?
"I'm afraid of trouble."
Lin Xiaoya nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
She didn't know how many people had died outside last night.
I don't know what the name Qin Xuanxiao means in Longyuan City.
All she knew was that the way people looked at her today was different from before.
People used to be curious.
Someone took pity on them.
Some people find it troublesome.
Some people looked at her as if she were a dangerous object.
But now, there is more awe and reluctance to approach.
People were whispering among themselves:
"That's Lin Xiaoya?"
"Did the White Pagoda collapse because of her?"
"Don't talk nonsense, it was the White Pagoda that disturbed her dream first."
"Senior Bloodface said that her matter ends here."
"Shh, keep your voice down, don't let Lin Yuan hear you."
"Lin Yuan himself should be fine, right?"
"You dare say that? Qin Zhao thought so too before."
The murmurs were very quiet.
But Lin Yuan could hear it all.
He ignored it.
He didn't care about these people's misjudgments.
I think it's good that he relies on blood.
It's fine if you think he has ancient cultivation behind him.
As long as you don't reach out, it doesn't matter.
The entrance to the Foreign Affairs Office.
When the academy deacon in charge of registration saw Lin Yuan and his sister, his body visibly stiffened.
He then immediately stood up, his tone unusually polite:
"Lin, Lin Xiaoya, what do you need to collect?"
Lin Xiaoya whispered about Xingmi rice, energy lamp wicks, and a few household items.
The deacon nodded quickly.
Yes, we have them all.
"I'll prepare it for you right away."
Several students in line nearby watched this scene with mixed expressions.
Previously, the staff of the Foreign Affairs Office always treated new students in a strictly official manner.
But now, facing Lin Yuan and his sister, he even lowered his voice a few notches.
This is not flattery.
It's fear.
Soon, the supplies were ready.
The deacon even added an extra bag of star rice.
Lin Yuan glanced at it.
"Too many."
The deacon quickly replied:
"This was sent by the Bai Family Chamber of Commerce. They said it was for the repair and supply of the Star Attribute Courtyard. It's unsigned, so it's not considered an illegal resource."
After he finished speaking, he himself felt that what he said was a bit superfluous.
Because everyone in Longyuan City knows that no one dares to use the threat of illegal resources to pressure Lin Yuan and his sister.
Lin Yuan did not refuse.
They picked up the supplies and left with Lin Xiaoya.
As I walked out of the Foreign Affairs Office, I ran into Chu Tianheng.
First place on the freshman list.
Mid-stage Grandmaster Realm.
The direct descendants of the Chu family.
The students' expressions immediately changed.
In the past, everyone would have been looking forward to seeing if Chu Tianheng and Lin Yuan would clash.
After all, Lin Yuan is a controversial figure.
But now, no one dares to think that way.
Chu Tianheng stopped in his tracks.
She glanced at Lin Yuan, then at Lin Xiaoya.
He then stepped aside to make way.
It's not about being obsequious.
It wasn't about trying to please.
They simply and calmly made way.
"Lin Yuan".
He spoke.
Lin Yuan looked at him.
Chu Tianheng said:
"I've heard about the White Pagoda."
Lin Yuan remained silent.
Chu Tianheng continued:
I will not comment on what Qin Zhao did in the past.
"But the Chu family won't do the same stupid thing."
These words sent a jolt through the surrounding students.
Chu Tianheng is making a public statement.
The Chu family will not touch Lin Yuan and his sister.
Lin Yuan said calmly:
"casual."
After saying that, he led Lin Xiaoya past Chu Tianheng.
From beginning to end, he didn't give the other person a second glance, even though the other person was ranked first on the freshman list.
It was quiet all around.
The students from the Chu family had somewhat complicated expressions.
Some people think Lin Yuan is too aloof.
But no one dared to say it.
Chu Tianheng stared at Lin Yuan's retreating figure, his gaze growing increasingly intense.
"casual."
He repeated it in a low voice.
This attitude is too calm.
It wasn't an act of arrogance.
Rather, they genuinely don't care.
Number one on the freshman list?
Is he a direct descendant of the Chu family?
Mid-stage Grandmaster?
In Lin Yuan's eyes, they all seemed no different from roadside stones.
Chu Tianheng suddenly smiled.
"really."
The student next to me asked:
"Brother Tianheng, what exactly happened?"
Chu Tianheng watched Lin Yuan's departing figure.
"This person is more worth seeing than the blood-stained face."
……
far away.
Ji Qinghe also witnessed this scene.
She saw Chu Tianheng make way for her.
I saw Lin Yuan walk by calmly.
Seeing that all the students around spontaneously made way for him.
At that moment, a very strange feeling suddenly arose in her heart.
It's as if, from this day forward, the new student circle of Longyuan Academy has been silently divided into two layers.
The first layer consists of those who are still vying for rankings, resources, and positions.
The other layer is Lin Yuan.
He was not on the list.
No action was taken.
There was no fighting over anything.
But everyone had already started making way for him.
What's even more terrifying is...
Most people still think of him as someone who is being protected.
As Ji Qinghe watched the figure in the old school uniform from behind, that absurd guess resurfaced in her mind.
Will it be...
It wasn't the blood-stained face protecting Lin Yuan.
Is it Lin Yuan who is the source of the blood?
The moment the thought crossed her mind, she felt her heart skip a beat.
She dared not think about it anymore.
But his gaze remained fixed on Lin Yuan's back.
Sunlight fell on the stone path.
Lin Yuan led Lin Xiaoya by the hand and walked calmly through the crowd.
The students automatically made way.
No one mocked the first level of the Qi and Blood Realm.
Nobody mentioned waste.
No one dared to block the way.
But nobody really knows.
They were not making way for a boy protected by a blood-stained face.
Instead, it is an abyss that has not yet fully opened.