Chapter 84: Ranking

The large group of geniuses, along with their families and friends, immediately rushed towards the goatee-bearded man.

"Please don't rush," the goatee-bearded man said. "I will hang this golden scroll on the wall so everyone can see it clearly." He then walked towards a wall in the corridor, unrolled the golden scroll, and hung it up. He chuckled loudly as he added, "Anyone whose name appears on the list may stay tonight in the Blazing Sun Palace with one family member. Tomorrow morning, you will proceed to Yuanchu Mountain for the final selection. As for those not on the list, you may now leave."

Many rushed forward. Many family members and friends swiftly moved to the wall, carefully examining the names on the scroll. Even some of the geniuses, forgetting their decorum, used their movement techniques to rush closer and scrutinized the list.

"Where's my name? Where is it?" one genius asked, his face pale with anxiety, as he searched in vain for his name among the hundred on the golden scroll.

"Ranked thirty-ninth? Good, at least I passed the preliminary selection. I'm sure I'll make a splash in the final selection and secure a spot."

"Where is my son's name?"

"Not in the top hundred. Oh well."

Meng Chuan and his father, however, were not in a hurry. They walked towards the hung golden scroll along with Yan Jin.

"It's alright. We didn't pass the preliminary selection this year, but we'll try again next year," an old man with a weathered face comforted his son. "You'll be twenty next year, so you'll have one more chance. Regardless of this year... you met the minimum requirements for all three preliminary assessments. Practice for another year, and your strength will improve further. You'll definitely secure a spot next year."

"Father," the son murmured, "I truly see how many geniuses there are. Compared to them, I'm quite ordinary. I'll definitely work harder when I go back."

The weathered man smiled. In the past, his son had been very proud. After all, in their hometown, he far surpassed his peers. He acted independently and had the demeanor of a true genius. This time, his son's arrogance was completely shattered; in the Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination, he was indeed quite ordinary. Fortunately, he still had a year and could try again next year.

"Patriarch, I will go directly into military service," a woman in white calmly told the silver-haired elder beside her. "The gap between me and others is indeed significant. I can't enter Yuanchu Mountain, and I have nothing to say about it."

"Serve in the military, accumulate merit, and in the future, you'll also have a chance to brave life-or-death trials to become a Fiendgod," the silver-haired elder nodded.

The woman in white calmly stated, "Either die on the battlefield or become a Fiendgod." Her goal in this life was to become a Fiendgod; she had never considered merely surviving.

Many of the geniuses and their families left one by one. Those not on the list, naturally, had to leave.

"Impossible! How can I not be on the list?" a brocade-robed youth stared blankly at the golden scroll.

"Let's go," the elder beside him said, pulling him away.

"There must be a mistake somewhere. I should be entering Yuanchu Mountain. I must get in," the brocade-robed youth murmured.

"If you lose, you must accept defeat," the elder said.

"I haven't even participated in the final selection yet. The Fiendgods of Yuanchu Mountain haven't discovered my true potential. They must have made a mistake," the brocade-robed youth muttered to himself.

The elder shook his head, sighed, and forcibly pulled him away. More than half of the geniuses had to leave, as only a hundred names were on the list.

Meng Chuan watched as many of the unsuccessful geniuses displayed various reactions: some were silent, some frantic, some indifferent. His heart felt a mix of emotions. For mortal geniuses, entering Yuanchu Mountain was the difference between heaven and earth. Too many hopes rested on Meng Chuan as well, but he was in a much better position, being only eighteen years old. Unlike many other geniuses who were twenty and attempting the Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination for the last time.

"Young Master Meng is amazing."

"Young Master Meng, you're ranked first."

Even before Meng Chuan reached the golden scroll, people were already congratulating him.

"First?"

Meng Chuan and his father moved through the crowd to the front, finally seeing the hanging golden scroll. The characters on the scroll exuded a subtle sense of pressure. His gaze swept across the ranking list, revealing many names like Jin Huan, Yan Jin, and Chu Yong. At the very top was 'Meng Chuan'.

Meng Chuan: Grade A-minus, Grade A-plus, SuperbJi Yuantong: Grade A-plus, Grade A-medium, Grade A-plusZong Sha: Grade A-plus, Grade A-medium, Grade A-medium

Meng Chuan understood after reading: "Ji Yuantong and Zong Sha were both rated Grade A-plus in the first preliminary assessment! Clearly, the Fiendgods of Yuanchu Mountain give special consideration to divine archers."

Zong Sha's score in the first assessment was slightly lower than Meng Chuan's, yet his evaluation was on par with Ji Yuantong. This clearly indicated different judging criteria for divine archers. They were also the only two to receive 'Grade A-plus' in the first assessment. The second assessment also had only two Grade A-pluses: Jin Huan and Meng Chuan. Although Meng Chuan's speed was over ten percent faster than Jin Huan's, making him naturally much stronger, he still only received 'Grade A-plus' and did not reach 'Superb'. This clearly showed that the threshold for 'Superb' was very high.

Of all the geniuses and all their evaluations...

Only Meng Chuan received 'Superb' in the third assessment.

"'Superb'? A 'Superb' appeared this year?" Ji Yuantong looked at the single 'Superb' rating on the list and fell silent. Ji Yuantong's preliminary results — two Grade A-pluses and one Grade A-medium — were absolutely extraordinary. Yet, Meng Chuan had an additional 'Superb' rating.

Ji Yuantong glanced at Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang, who were not far away, then turned and walked away. His eyes, however, burned with fighting spirit. "I will be first after the final selection," he vowed.

"Ninth," Yan Jin said calmly, glancing at the ranking. There were only about ten people whose Fiendgod foundations could compare to his, so being ranked ninth was relatively low for him. "The dual-sword art I practice," Yan Jin remarked, looking at the rankings, "this preliminary selection only tested the power of one of my swords. The final selection is where I can truly prove my strength." He admitted to himself that he was slightly weaker than Meng Chuan. Yet, he was still stronger than Jin Huan and others! However, Jin Huan was ranked sixth, while he was ninth.

"'Superb'? There's actually a 'Superb' rating?" Many geniuses, including Chu Yong, Yan Feng, Jin Huan, Princess Li Ying, Dong Fang, Ning Yibu, and Yan Chitong, were all quite startled by the 'Superb' rating. Especially those from powerful Fiendgod families, they knew how rare a 'Superb' rating was in the preliminary assessment.

The Blazing Sun Palace covered a vast area, and many rooms had been prepared, with two to three hundred located on either side of the palace walls. These were now to accommodate all the geniuses, their families, and friends.

Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang were assigned two adjacent rooms.

*Whoosh whoosh whoosh.* It was deep night, and the snow fell heavier and heavier. Meng Chuan looked out the window at the heavy snow within the Blazing Sun Palace, his thoughts adrift.

Tomorrow was the final selection. He was confident he would secure a spot; the only uncertainty was his final ranking. "Once I secure a spot, I'll officially enter Yuanchu Mountain," Meng Chuan thought. "According to Yuanchu Mountain's rules, one isn't allowed to leave until their strength reaches an extremely high level. I wonder when I'll return home next. Five years? Ten years?" His next return home would certainly be far in the future. He would definitely not see his great-aunt again, and the patriarch, being over ninety, would likely be difficult to see again as few mortals lived past a hundred.

"I know your expectations of me."

"I won't disappoint you."

Meng Chuan silently vowed.

Elsewhere in the Blazing Sun Palace.

Candlelight flickered. Listening to the sound of the heavy snow, King Donghe smiled as he finished writing a letter inside the room. He smiled with satisfaction only after completing it.

"A-Tong," King Donghe called out, his voice carrying half a *li* away to a certain spot. Soon, a figure appeared in the courtyard where King Donghe resided.

"Go, deliver this letter to the Mountain Lord." King Donghe waved his hand, and the letter floated out the window, landing in the hands of the figure in the courtyard.

"Yes," the figure replied, spreading a pair of wind wings and soaring into the sky with a whoosh, swiftly flying towards Yuanchu Mountain.

"Auspicious snow promises a bountiful year," King Donghe said, looking at the heavy snow outside. He smiled and added, "Another peerless talent has been discovered. I hope he can grow to become another powerful Fiendgod for our human race."