Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In the office.
Old Man Li was furious, Huang Jing was indifferent, Fang Ping swept through the list and muttered, “This is to create momentum!”
In suddenly announcing such a ranking, the purpose was obvious.
Thousands of Grandmasters, were they powerful?
None of those who do not know the details of the Catacombs would think that humans were weak!
For the martial artists who had only a smattering of knowledge about the Catacombs, if they had originally given up hope, their confidence would have greatly increased now!
To the impression of many people, humans’ antagonism towards the Catacombs was only against specific cities.
In a city, as most people did not know of the tutelary monster plants and monster beasts, there were a Rank-9, two or three Rank-8s, and an additional of about ten Rank-7s.
According to such a comparison of strength, Sino Nation only needed to go against 20 or so Rank-9 martial artists.
For Sino Nation, there were 33 Rank-9s currently on the list!
As for the golden body powerhouses, there were hundreds of them!
With such strength, the Fang Ping before would have also felt that Sino Nation had the means to resist the Catacombs.
The announcement of the rankings was not just a once-off grade statistics.
Fang Ping guessed that this was a preparation for the upcoming announcement.
What did the general public know?
With the knowledge that the country and mankind were powerful and prosperous as this, even if they were to know of the existence of the Catacombs, they would still be optimistic and probably had a mindset of the opening up of a new world.
Huang Jing who also agreed with Fang Ping’s words nodded and said, “It is indeed an attempt to build momentum. It could be expected that before long, matters relating to the Catacombs will be made public.
“After all, at this juncture, it would no longer be possible to ensure the safety of ordinary people.
“And knowing the existence of the new world could also inspire many people to become stronger.
“In the past, without reaching Rank-3, there was no way you would be allowed to enter the Catacombs. Many of those Rank-1 and 2 martial artists felt that practicing martial arts was simply to become part of a privileged social class.
“At this time, after making public the existence of the Catacombs, if the policies implement some sort of guidance, for example, the location of resources for cultivation that is everywhere in the Catacombs... a large number of casual martial artists would have a new motivation to work harder to enter the Catacombs and strive to become Rank-3 martial artists.”
Old man Li snorted disdainfully. “What guidance? This is only deception...”
Huang Jing grunted. “Deception? Many martial artists now have no motivation to cultivate at all. Without giving them any benefits, who would risk their lives to cultivate?
“Are we going to tell them that once they reached Rank-3, they would have to enter the Catacombs and lose their lives!
“Once this is the case, believe it or not, those who would cravenly cling to their lives, even if they were able to break through, they wouldn’t want to break through!”
Old Man Li retorted. “What’s the use of these cowardly guys getting stronger? Even if they enter the Catacombs, they will probably piss in their pants...”
“We cannot think like that, many people would be scared at first.” Huang Jing smiled. “Including you and me, weren’t you afraid at all when you entered the Catacombs for the first time?
“Humans are also the most adaptable race. When faced with the crises of life and death, genocide, and the dangers of a fallen country and a destroyed home, there would always be people who would stand up!
“There would always be a group of people, who at this time will emerge with greater potential, regardless of whether for humanity or their own lives, they will fight bravely and surpass themselves.
“Changsheng, there are many such people. You have to understand that if it comes to that, those who are afraid to battle would only be a few.”
The history of Sino Nation proved all this.
When faced with a calamity, most people will not resign themselves to their fate. These people might only be small hooligans on normal days, and might even have done many evil deeds, but the human spirit would shine through eventually.
The return of the prodigal son and eventually becoming a hero was not necessarily impossible.
Old Man Li did not refute his words. There were always such people, whether it was in the past or the present.
Some of today’s Grandmaster powerhouses, when they were young, did not necessarily possess extraordinary talent, but when they knew of the existence of the Catacombs, many had finally made a breakthrough and even entered the Grandmasters’ level.
Fang Ping did not interrupt the two people talking. After they had finished speaking, Fang Ping asked, “Will the Rank-6 rankings come next?”
Currently, there were charts of all the ranks.
The only one that was not there was the Rank-6 rankings.
The purpose of the rankings was not only to broadcast their martial force, not only to proclaim their powerful strength but also to stimulate the martial artists’ desires to increase their strength.
Being the best writer is as meaningless a title as the second-best fighter. There was still the enthusiasm of the martial artists.
No one would feel that they were inferior to others of the same level. Now that the rankings were out, and the ranking was known, this would bring about many people opting to make a greater breakthrough in their levels.
And this was actually what the government wanted to see.
If they all become Vitality martial artists, with pure rank and no strength, then such a martial artist would face a greater probability of death after entering the Catacombs.
Even if there were Rank-7s who could not contend with some Rank-6s, but once they entered the Catacombs, the powerhouses of the Catacombs would not care if they were weak Rank-7s. If they were Rank-7, the opponent will surely have Rank-7 or even higher ranks ready to kill them.
If people were weak, then they were only looking for death.
To put it more seriously, it might even affect the entire war situation.
Once a big war broke out, from the standpoint of rankings, the two sides had equivalent strength. The deployment response would be made under the conditions of equivalent strength.
However, if there was a weakling of the same rank, who was killed in the early stage, this would be troublesome as it would cause a chain reaction.
Just like that time with Nanjiang Catacombs, Commander Zhou Dingguo was considered a powerhouse of the same rank. He managed to go up against three Rank-8s that day and resisted for a long time.
But if he were a weak Rank-8... such as Old Man Li... It would be a tragedy and he would be quickly killed by the three people.
If the three golden bodies lost to their limits, the remaining Rank-7s would all have to die.
Once the Rank-7s and 8s were all dead, then Wu Chuan would probably be surrounded and killed.
So do not look at the individual strengths of the same level as if it was a one-to-one matter. In reality, it would affect the whole situation.
The Rank-6 rankings not been published because many of the Peak Rank-6s were still in the Catacombs and it was unknown whether they were dead or alive.
However, the government might not care about these things now. The aim was to release a ranking first.
Huang Jing thought for a while and said, “It should be out soon. The government holds more information than us. The government would probably know about the information regarding the disappearance of some powerhouses.”
Fang Ping raised his eyebrows slightly. “Then, do they know all the information about the evil sect powerhouses? There are no evil sects on the rankings, but the evil sects have many powerhouses. I have seen some Rank-7s and 8s.”
“Even if they knew, they won’t be published.”
Huang Jing shook his head. Nowadays, what humans needed was unity. They would not want to inform the public that a group of high-ranking powerhouses was causing internal strife.
Fang Ping said no more but just felt regret. “The affirmation of the list is not very reliable. I didn’t get into the Rank-5 rankings. After all, I have fought against a Rank-9 in the Catacombs. Which Rank-5 is stronger than me? ”
Huang Jing instantly kept quiet. Could he not mention this?
Did he fight against a Rank-9?
Well, he also knew a little about what happened to Fang Ping at the Nanjiang Catacombs.
Yes, he did fight with a Rank-9, for example, he had, with a distance of a dozen or so miles between them, fought against several roots of the opponent, he should be considered as having dealt with a Rank-9 right?
If this was the case, Li Changsheng as a Rank-5 level back then had also fought against a Rank-9.
As for himself, he had also fought against a Rank-9. In the Rank-9 battle, he had watched it from a far distance and there was the aftermath of the attack.
However, Fang Ping’s strength was indeed not weak.
At the very least, he had a solid foundation that was unmatched.
Huang Jing suddenly asked, “Yes, yesterday’s annular solar eclipse, did you all notice it?”
Fang Ping shook his head, he did not care too much.
Old Man Li, on the other hand, had a slightly grave expression. He nodded slightly and said, “I noticed, it seems... It seems to be...”
“In some areas, an energy tide broke out!” Huang Jing whispered, “The Earth’s energy concentration has become higher! Yesterday’s solar eclipse seems to have... have opened up something and it feels similar to the opening of a Catacombs’ passageway.
“But there were High Grandmasters who did a survey, besides the opening of the passageway over at the islands, no other new passageway had appeared.”
Old Man Li whispered, “I’m afraid that... Will there be a Catacombs’ passageway in outer space?”
Huang Jing frowned immediately.
Fang Ping could not help but say, “It cannot be? They couldn’t possibly be prepared to enter the earth from outer space? Wouldn’t it be better to open more passageways on the earth? There is no space technology in the Catacombs. If they opened a passageway in outer space, other than the high-ranked, the middle and low-ranked would not be able to survive at all...”
Old Man Li said faintly, “They are probably doing this precisely because we did not pay attention to this. After all, working in collusion from within and without would be easier to break through humankind’s defense.”
The Catacombs’ passageways were constantly watched by the human powerhouses.
However once there was an attack by powerhouses from outer space, or if they infiltrated into the human world, it would be possible that no one would find out.
Fang Ping frowned, this matter could not be prevented.
Even though there were currently a large number of satellites in every country, but a person in the universe was as small as dust and would be difficult to be spotted.
The powerhouses especially, as they already possessed strong maneuverability, if they had enough understanding of human technology, it was very simple to avoid them.
The Rank-7s and 8s would not necessarily be very free in space.
However, for the Rank-9s, Fang Ping believed that it would not be difficult for them to survive. Even a Rank-8 would be able to freely move about. It was not a faux pas to say that the golden body was immortal.
“Since we have considered it, the powerhouses should have considered it as well.” Fang Ping said indifferently, “What’s more, I don’t think it’s alright to simply open the passageway anywhere. If that is the case, all 104 passageways would be opened in Sino Nation or those smaller countries, and we would not be able to hold out.
“I think, that the opening of the passageways, might be related to... life energy.”
Fang Ping simply made a random guess. The so-called life energy that Fang Ping meant was that of human life energy.
Judging from the current distribution of Catacombs’ passageway, they were more likely to occur in places with more people.
The location of the passageway that ran through the two realms might be determined based on this.
This kind of assumption had already occurred to mankind, and the possibility it was true was not small.
Both Huang Jing and Old Man Li nodded their heads. Perhaps, now worrying about the emergence of a passageway in outer space was also unfounded. This was something that should be concerned about by upper management of various countries and top powerhouses.
Amid their conversation, the school office manager knocked on the door and entered.
Seeing that all three of them were there, the school office manager greeted them and then said, “Vice-chancellor, dean, the Education Ministry have sent over some documents.”
“What documents?”
“It requires the schools to report specific information of Rank-6 martial artists, such as their cultivation progress, Catacombs’ battle records, statistics of enemy kills...”
The school office manager went on for a while and then said again, “I had enquired with the Education Ministry. This should be done to prepare the Rank-6 rankings... However, the Education Ministry has hinted vaguely... that it may be to cultivate a group of strong Grandmasters in advance.”
Fang Ping and the rest were greatly surprised. Fang Ping asked quickly, “Training a group of Grandmasters in advance? Does this mean that the government is ready to fund these Rank-6 powerhouses?
“I know that the government must have a lot of good things. They would surely have reserves of energy stones, Life Essences, and even the fruits of some monster plants.
“If this is the case, doesn’t it mean that... I could take advantage of this?”
Speaking of this, Fang Ping immediately said, “Report all the information of the MCMAU Rank-6 powerhouses and exaggerate their strengths slightly. If the government is really training a group of people in advance, then we will benefit from this greatly!”
Comparing MCMAU’s reserves with the government’s would be inconceivable.
It was difficult to say how many monster beasts or monster plants those powerhouses had killed.
Not to mention, in the battle of the Capital City Catacombs that year, since they had destroyed two cities, there would be a lot of good loot.
Something similar to the sunflower seeds of the monster sunflower from the Monster Sunflower City, Fang Ping guessed that the government should have some if not a lot.
This could improve Mentality!
For the middle and high-ranked martial artists, the pills for replenishing Vitality and the energy stones for replenishing energy, no matter how precious or how much they had, would not be as good as things that could supplement and increase Mentality.
This was a real rare resource, even rarer than a Divine Weapon.
A Divine Weapon could be cultivated from after killing high-ranked monster beasts and monster plants, but things that can increase the Mentality might not be attained even after killing high-ranks.
Huang Jing frowned slightly. “If this is the case, it means that the situation is indeed getting tenser and tenser, and the government is going to use its resources reserve. However, there are a lot of Rank-6 martial artists in Sino Nation. I think, that even if there are things that can assist in breakthroughs, there wouldn’t be much.
“It is not certain how the government will choose the candidates. If it is from the perspective of strength alone, I am afraid that it will cause dissatisfaction among many people.
“After all, some people, such as the generals in the Military Department, have extremely impressive records.”
Fang Ping did not care about all these. After thinking about it, he said, “Shall I be in the report as well? I think I will reach Rank-6 soon. If there is something good to be distributed, and I miss it, it would be a pity.”
The school office manager froze for a moment. Huang Jing and Old Man Li were also speechless.
He really dared to ask for it!
Fang Ping said seriously, “Really, I think that it would not take me long to achieve Rank-6. Maybe even before the government’s policy is out, I would have already broken through. If I miss all those good things, wouldn’t it be a pity?”
Old Man Li was resigned to it and said, “Alright, shut up. We will talk again when you have reached Rank-6. But... I think I should qualify to sign up, after all, I am only Rank-6...”
Huang Jing had a dark expression, and the school office manager was completely dazed.
What was going on?
Even Dean Li was pretending to be Rank-6, without even knowing what kind of benefits it offered.
Old Man Li said seriously, “Get me off the Rank-8 rankings. I am a real Rank-6. If there is anything that can increase my Mentality, it is better to give to me than to others.”
Huang Jing said angrily, “Don’t embarrass MCMAU!”
If the outside world said that he was Rank-8, then he was Rank-8!
Just for the sake of some of the benefits which were not even confirmed, now he wanted to be Rank-6. How would the outside world think of MCMAU?
He glared at Old Man Li, then glanced at Fang Ping, Huang Jing was feeling exasperated.
Next time, he would never talk about these things with these two bastards again.
Seeing that the school office manager was still waiting, Huang Jing said, “Just report all the information of the Rank-6 martial artists in the school, just report it as it is. If they are training some Grandmasters, it is still possible that MCMAU will get several slots.”
Apart from the others, Lu Fengrou and Tang Feng had not made a breakthrough yet, they would probably stand a chance.
“Alright, vice-chancellor, dean, then I would get going...”
The school office manager had not stayed long, if he were to continue to stay, his values and views would be destroyed.
A Rank-5 who wanted to pretend to be Rank-6, and another Rank-8 who also pretended to be Rank-6. They thought that the government would not examine and verify them thoroughly.
As soon as the person left, Huang Jing started to chase them away and finally began thinking. “On Nanjiang’s side, let everybody come back before the end of the year. Now it is possible to enter on a large scale and there are people from other places rushing to Nanjiang. Don’t let lives be lost because of some benefits. With the situation now, it’s for the best.”
Fang Ping nodded, it was almost 20 days since Chen Yunxi and the others entered the Catacombs.
Moreover, in less than a month, it would be the New Year. Although martial artists bore great responsibilities, they should be reunited during the New Year. This was also the ideology that most Sino Nation martial artists had.
Today, even those in the Catacombs that have been waging war for many years, knew that during this time of the year, there would be much fewer martial artists from the Land of Rebirth.
In the previous years, there were even Catacombs cities launching an attack at this time.
However, as there were generally fewer martial artists on duty during the New Year, there were more powerhouses in town.
Large groups of grandmaster powerhouses who did not usually enter the Catacombs would spend time in the Catacombs during the New Year instead, mainly to reduce the pressure on the martial artists manning the posts.
Thinking of these things, Fang Ping thought, would the martial artists stationed in the Catacombs celebrate the New Year?
If they did, would the Catacombs humans be confused?
By the way, was there a festival like New Year’s Eve at the Catacombs?
For a while, Fang Ping’s thoughts wandered afar.