Chapter 516 - Strange Illusory Beast (1/2)

“How are the Mystic Sky Rankings determined?” Xiao Chen asked, looking at Baili Xiaohualuo.

Baili Xiaohualuo chuckled. “It’s not battle-based, but Mystic Power-based. You can test your power by entering that stone chamber,” he replied, pointing at the stone chamber nearby.

Xiao Chen’s brows furrowed. So, the rankings were determined by Mystic Power. The rankings were quite authoritative for the disparity between the Mystic Power of a Nascent Soul Realm and a Nirvana Realm cultivator was pretty significant.

“There are two main factors that determine one’s Mystic Power,” Baili Xiaohualuo continued to explain. “The first is your cultivation realm, the second your cultivation grade. Elder Wu will explain cultivation grades to you in a while. Let’s talk about the Mystic Sky Rankings first.”

“To enter the Mystic Sky Rankings, you have to take the Mystic Power test. The results will be automatically reflected in the three steles. Those who didn’t make the rankings wouldn’t appear here, and vice versa.”

“For example, if your Mystic Power places you on the 11th of the Heaven Ranking, you will find your name there. The previous 11th will fall by one rank while the 36th will fall out of the Heaven Ranking. However, he won’t fall to the Earth Ranking. He’ll have to retest and enter the ranking himself.”

Baili Xiaohualuo patiently explained the dynamics of the Mystic Sky Rankings, before finally reminding them, “There’s another thing. Some of the people on the rankings have already left the academy, but their names have always remained there because no one has ever managed to kick them off.”

Everyone finally understood what was going on. Xiao Chen once again looked at the Earth Ranking, where he found Bai Ling’s name in the 61st place. He couldn’t help feeling surprised. Bai Ling’s Mystic Power was surely higher than his, but even she could only barely make the bottom of the Earth Ranking? Were the people of this academy all monsters?

The thought made him look at the Heaven Ranking again. Those who could make this ranking were surely all terrifyingly powerful people. After looking for a while, he noticed something strange. Each name on the ranking was hovering as if it could be kicked off anytime, with the exception being the first place. The name in the first place stood there as steady as a mountain.

“Who’s that?”

Xiao Chen’s confused question prompted everyone to look up as well. They stared blankly at the name in the first place: Ye Cangming.

Frowning, Baili Xiaohualuo rubbed his chin. “I have never seen him. It’s pretty strange. I have been studying at the academy for almost ten years and his name has been there for just as long. No one has ever kicked him off his place.” Toward the end, he looked at the other older disciples.

The older disciples shrugged. If a ten-year-long student like Baili Xiaohualuo didn’t know the person, why would they? Either way, the first name had never been eliminated by anyone.

Suddenly, a strange voice emerged from the dark stone chamber. “Ye Cangming entered the rankings a hundred years ago and has long left the academy. But in the past century, no one has ever managed to kick him down…”

The spectral voice caused everyone to jump. Xiao Chen was startled too, and felt a slight chill running down his back. A name that no one could kick down after a hundred years! A hundred years ago, the Annihilation Times wasn’t even here yet!

Xiao Chen was overwhelmed with shock. Ye Cangming… The name reminded him of something, but the shock was so great that he couldn’t quite recall the details. His mind felt as gloopy as glue.

“Hehe, young people. Stop looking at the Heaven Ranking and focus on the Human Ranking instead. That’s where you should target!”

The ghost-like voice once again drifted out of the dark stone chamber. This time, the voice was accompanied by an old man dressed in a white-and-blue unlined robe. The thin old man had a head of grizzled hair. His face was so wrinkled that it resembled crumpled tree bark, striking fear in those who looked at him.

“Um… Grandpa, can you stop talking in such a terrifying way?” asked a polite-looking young girl, her voice trembling. “It’s quite… scary…”

The old man chortled, making the lines on his face even deeper. That just made him look even scarier, frightening the young girl so much that she trembled. She bit her lower lip and hid next to Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen patted her shoulder, assuring her that she would be fine, before saluting the old man. “Senior, can you tell us who Ye Cangming is?”

The old man shook his hand and took out a banana from behind him. Peeling the banana, he said serenely, “Young man, some things are better left unknown. Knowing too much might not necessarily bring you any benefit…”

His voice still sounded quite spectral. Baili Xiaohualuo saluted the old man and smiled. “Elder Wu, I have brought the disciples here. Please excuse me.”

The old man waved his hand. “Thank you for giving them a lesson in my place. You may leave…”

Baili Xiaohualuo nodded and then turned to look at Jiang Qianqian. “Jiang…” Before he could say the words “junior sister”, Jiang Qianqian was already frowning and turning her head away.

He smiled. Without saying anything, he turned around and walked toward the teleportation formation. His smile disappeared when he walked past Bai Ling. He glanced at her, ever so briefly, but it was enough to make her shiver and lower her head.

Then, Elder Wu started talking with his mouth full of banana. “Alright, kids. Go and get your Mystic Power tested in the stone chamber. Remember: you must attack the Illusory Beasts with everything you have. This concerns your future. And relax, the beasts won’t attack you. They’ll just bear the brunt of your attacks. Though, I must advise you to go to the Spirit Energy Formation on the right to restore your condition before the test.”

Everyone kept quiet and went straight to the spirit energy formation to reinstate their True Energy. A girl walked up to the stone chamber and peered inside. The chamber didn’t look that big from the outside, but the inside seemed like a bottomless pit. It was so dark that she couldn’t see anything. Moreover, there were Illusory Beasts inside. She was so frightened that she didn’t dare to step inside.

A boy behind her laughed cheerfully. “Go in, Junior Sister. Don’t be scared,” he said, and gave her a little push in the back. The girl couldn’t react in time. With a little yelp, she was pushed inside the stone chamber and disappeared in the darkness within, along with her voice.

“Don’t be scared,” the old man said serenely. “You should all enter. You will find yourself in your room when you get in. You won’t affect each other.”