Chapter 183

Chapter 183: Three Grand Secret Grounds

Su Mu asked with a smile: “On the Nanlan Continent you’re a peerless genius. Now that you suddenly see so many peerless geniuses, how do you feel? Do you… feel ashamed?”

Li Shuang’s smile grew brighter as she said softly: “Ashamed? No. I just feel excited.”

“Excited?” Su Mu was genuinely surprised.

Li Shuang chuckled: “There are so many people waiting for me to surpass them one by one. Isn’t that exciting?”

Su Mu was quiet for a moment, then laughed: “Good. I’ll wait for you to surpass them, one by one.” [He thought that while the Central Continent had many geniuses, it wasn’t as exaggerated as she imagined. They had inheritances for Soul Methods, guidance from elders, and forming a Soul Golden Core wasn’t as hard for them. But Li Shuang had created a new Soul Method on her own. Even in the Central Continent, that would cause huge waves. Pressure would only bring out more of her strength. He was already looking forward to her turning Myriad Arts City upside down.]

Unaware of his thoughts, Li Shuang looked closely at the people along the street and noticed something different. She asked with curiosity: “Senior Su, why do some cultivators here shine with silver light and some with gold?”

Faces were all blurred, and it was hard to see anyone clearly, yet a few people had halos. She then looked down at herself. She had none.

Su Mu chuckled and kept a little mystery: “Walk straight ahead to the Hall of Myriad Arts first.”

Li Shuang nodded. With his guidance, she felt much calmer. Soon, she found the Hall of Myriad Arts.

Two giant stone steles stood at the entrance. Each stele had one hundred names carved from top to bottom. Li Shuang looked at the stele on the left and her eyes moved slightly. At the top were three bold words: Genius Ranking.

“This Genius Ranking records the hundred most gifted cultivators under a hundred years old in the Central Continent.”

Li Shuang read carefully.

“Genius Ranking No. 1: Devil Heaven Sect, You Lan.

Genius Ranking No. 2: Sunset Glow Sect, Feng Yu.

Genius Ranking No. 3: Limitless Sect, Cang Yin.

…”

As she studied the names, something sudden happened. The number fifty, a person named Yuan Lin, vanished from the stele. Everyone after him moved up by one place, and a new name appeared at number one hundred. Li Shuang’s pupils contracted.

Su Mu said: “Yuan Lin probably fell.”

Li Shuang fell silent. In just this short time, a genius on the Genius Ranking had died.

“The ranking changes for three reasons,” Su Mu explained in detail: “First, someone on the list dies, so the people behind move up.”

“Second, someone defeats a ranked person. The victor takes that person’s place, and the defeated moves down one spot.”

“Third, someone’s Merit Points surpass a ranked person’s. The one who gets pushed down can issue one unconditional challenge to defend their place. If they win, they keep it.”

“Merit Points?” Li Shuang asked, curious again: “This city also uses Merit Points?”

“Of course. Without Merit Points, how would these lists be arranged?” Su Mu gestured toward the other stele.

This stele was the Masters Ranking. It also held only one hundred names. Even You Lan, first on the Genius Ranking, did not appear on the Masters Ranking.

“The Masters Ranking records the strongest in the Central Continent, as long as they have left records in Myriad Arts City. If they haven’t, they can’t be listed.”

Genius Ranking and Masters Ranking, two great lists. Li Shuang’s eyes shone. By difficulty, the Masters Ranking was higher, but those on the Genius Ranking were already walking the road to power. For now, the list she should challenge was the Genius Ranking.

“You should enter the Hall of Myriad Arts and register your identity,” Su Mu said: “You can use your real information or a name you make up.”

Listening, Li Shuang walked inside. She asked with a hint of mischief: “If I log in under the name of You Lan, number one on the Genius Ranking, will it pass?”

Su Mu said without comment: “No one will stop you. But if You Lan’s followers, or You Lan herself, come looking for you, you’ll just have to handle it.”

Li Shuang was speechless: “…”

At the back of the hall stood many stands. On each one lay a book and a pen. People came and went. Li Shuang chose an empty stand and approached. Under Su Mu’s guidance, she picked up the pen. Information flowed into her mind at once.

“Wanfa Eye grade: Bronze Eye. Appraised result: this Bronze Eye has passed through ten masters and now has its eleventh. Please write your codename. Once written, the Bronze Eye will be bound.”

A codename…

Li Shuang thought for a moment, then wrote a single character, “?.”

The character sank into the book. She felt a strange link form. From now on, she was truly bound to this Bronze Eye. In Myriad Arts City, her codename would be ?.

At the same time, a new message appeared in her mind: “Because this is your first time entering Myriad Arts City, here is a brief introduction. Fighting is forbidden anywhere inside the city except the arena area. Obey the rules or face punishment. Light punishment brings heavy injuries. Heavy punishment wipes out the soul. All trades made inside the city are protected by the rules. Robbery is forbidden. Outside the city lies the Soul Prison. Cultivators whose Soul Golden Core is not condensed enough should not leave lightly. Within Myriad Arts City are the Three Grand Secret Grounds: Great Dao Mountain, Skyreach Tower, and the Sea of Stillness. Each has many trials. Clear different trials to earn Merit Points. With enough Merit Points, you can enter either the Genius Ranking or the Masters Ranking.”

The short introduction ended. Li Shuang was already heading toward the first secret ground, the Sea of Stillness. She asked again, still puzzled: “Senior Su, about my earlier question, I still don’t have an answer. Why do some people here have halos of light?”