Two days later, Guangchuan City Second High School released the updated rankings.
A massive stone board rose in the center of the training ground, names glowing one after another.
Students crowded forward.
Yu Chen stepped into the crowd quietly.
Guangchuan City Second High School Rankings
1st Rank — Zhao Ming
Cultivation: Qi Gathering 1 Star
Demon Spirit: Spirit Refinement 3 Star
The name shone brightest.
No one argued.
Qi Gathering was a completely different realm.
2nd Rank — Lin Hao
Body Tempering 9 Star
3rd Rank — Sun Kai
Body Tempering 9 Star
4th Rank — Liu Yan
Body Tempering 8 Star
5th Rank — Xu Feng
Body Tempering 8 Star
Yu Chen's eyes moved downward.
17th Rank — Yu Chen
Body Tempering 7 Star
A small jump.
But noticeable.
Beside him, someone let out a low whistle.
"Not bad," a voice said.
Yu Chen turned.
It was Wang Fei—one of the few people he could call a friend. Broad-shouldered, honest, and loud enough to get into trouble more often than not.
"Body Tempering Seven Stars already?" Wang Fei grinned. "You're catching up fast."
Wang Fei's name was listed just below.
21st Rank — Wang Fei
Body Tempering 6 Star
Yu Chen smiled faintly. "You're not far behind."
Around them, discussions erupted.
"Zhao Ming is already in Qi Gathering…"
"At this rate, he's guaranteed a county sect slot."
"The rest of us are fighting for leftovers."
Yu Chen said nothing.
Rankings only reflected cultivation realm, not demon spirits.
That suited him just fine.
That evening, Yu Chen left the city again.
Black Fang Mountain.
This time, he didn't go deep.
Only the outer region.
Low- to mid-tier demon beasts.
Enough to accumulate spirit stones—slowly, steadily.
A Body Tempering Four-Star demon beast fell beneath his blade.
Then another.
No dramatic battles.
No risks he couldn't control.
By nightfall, Yu Chen turned back, his pouch slightly heavier than before.
Not enough.
But closer.
As he walked back toward the city lights, Yu Chen lifted his gaze to the horizon.
Four high schools.
One city ranking.
And soon—
Students from the other three schools would step onto the same stage.
Yu Chen's fingers tightened.
"Let's see how high Guangchuan really reaches."