CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44: EVERYONE MAKES THE RANKINGS

After several tests, Chu Chen already had a certain degree of confidence.

Once the bait was quickly set up, they hid nearby, waiting for the prey to arrive.

Soon, a Worker Ant accompanied by a Soldier Ant approached.

Chu Chen did not wait and issued the attack order immediately.

With a few dull thuds, the battle was over.

The team quickly cleaned up the battlefield, moving skillfully like workers on an assembly line.

The second wave arrived quickly; this time, there were three Worker Ants and five Soldier Ants.

Seeing this, Chu Chen couldn’t help but frown. The number of Soldier Ants exceeded his expectations, but five were still not enough to threaten them, merely requiring more effort.

After killing all the Gray Rock Ants, they thoroughly cleaned up the traces there.

"Let’s change places; we can’t stay here any longer," Chu Chen said firmly.

"It’s only the second wave; isn’t it a bit early to change locations?" Wang Lu asked, puzzled.

Hearing this, Chu Chen said solemnly, "You’ve seen the strength of the Soldier Ants. In the third wave, their number might exceed ten, and there would be at least five or six Worker Ants. Even if we manage to kill them all, it might alert the ant colony."

Hearing this, Wang Lu understood, touched his nose, and smiled, "You’re always thinking ahead."

Chu Chen laughed and replied, "Enough with the compliments, let’s move."

Two hours later, Chu Chen and the others rested under a giant tree.

They had changed locations five times during this period, with Soldier Ant appearances costing them time and reducing the number of Gray Rock Ants they could kill. However, their point acquisition speed did not decrease and even brought occasional surprises.

This situation was due to the Soldier Ants having a much higher Realm than the Worker Ants, awarding significantly more points. Occasionally, they encountered Servant Level Seventh Rank Soldier Ants, each granting Chu Chen and the others ten points.

While they were chatting, a light brown figure suddenly rushed towards them from afar.

Seeing this, the five stood up, a solemn look in their eyes.

The light brown figure was the Earth Rock Rat; Skinny had it patrolling. Its sudden return indicated a special situation had arisen.

Skinny stepped out of the group and quickly approached it.

After some communication, Chu Chen learned that a squad had inadvertently entered the Gray Rock Ants’ territory. Predictably, they were pursued by the ant colony and had to activate the Defense Shield on their Communication Bracelet to exit the assessment.

Chu Chen felt relieved; this mistake provided a scapegoat, likely reducing the number of Soldier Ants.

They could now wait patiently for the Gray Rock Ant colony to regain order before continuing to earn points.

Three hours passed as they waited.

While resting, Chu Chen checked the leaderboard, noticing he still ranked first with over nine hundred points, while Wang Lu was second with over eight hundred, and Gangzi was also over eight hundred. Ji Mingyue and her team’s points hovered around seven hundred.

The assessment ended at seven o’clock the next morning, and there were about three hours left before nightfall.

Currently, Bai Junkai was ranked twenty-ninth with one hundred thirty-two points.

Cold Face and Skinny, due to unintentional kills, earned sixty to seventy points each, giving Chu Chen a new idea.

"The three of us have enough points now. Next, I plan to have Cold Face and Skinny enter the Elite Class as well. Let’s share our thoughts," Chu Chen suddenly proposed.

The four were momentarily stunned, realizing this idea conflicted with their previous plan.

After a pause, Wang Lu was the first to speak, "I have no objections; entering the Elite Class together would be beneficial for mutual support in the future."

"I don’t have objections either. I’ve achieved my goal beyond expectations and should help teammates," Gangzi said with a smile.

Cold Face and Skinny were visibly pleased. Entering the Elite Class was a chance they never considered, and now that they had the opportunity, they wanted to seize it.

"As long as I can enter the Elite Class, I’m willing to give up all battle spoils. If you need me in the future, just ask, and I’ll do my utmost," Cold Face said, somewhat excitedly.

"Same here," Skinny added softly.

Chu Chen laughed and said, "We’ll split the spoils evenly. Entering the Elite Class doesn’t mean you can stay; the school holds monthly bottom-rank challenges. Losing means getting kicked out of the Elite Class."

Of course, these challenges aren’t battles; each person’s Guardian Beast is different, involving competitions in Realm, progress speed, and their Guardian Beasts’ strengths in different Domains, ensuring fairness overall.

"We understand. Even a month in the Elite Class would satisfy me," Skinny said with a smile.

"Let’s get started then."

Chu Chen examined the Ant Nest once more and noticed the Soldier Ant numbers had indeed decreased, which was good news for them.

Familiar scent, familiar formula, they started earning points again.

This time, a single bait could last three waves, greatly improving their point-earning speed. Of course, this was inseparable from their seamless teamwork over the past three days.

Watching their steadily rising ranks, the smiles on Cold Face and Skinny’s lips were harder to suppress than an AK, working with exceptional diligence.

But there are always worries; Ji Mingyue, seeing the darkening sky and the unreachable top three points, felt an inexplicable sense of defeat, amplifying her fatigue infinitely.

"Let’s continue fighting; the points from now on are yours. Aim to enter the Elite Class," Ji Mingyue stated solemnly.

To her, the Elite Class’s resources were merely an embellishment; her true desire was the honor of first place.

"I’m so frustrated; how on earth did they manage it? I’ll definitely investigate when we return," Qian Jiadong fumed wildly.

He was unwilling; his family, the Qian Family in Celestial Star City, ranked high in status. In terms of talent, he was a Cyan Rank Lower Grade genius. In Realm, he had reached Soul Pupil Level Ninth Rank. His Guardian Beast, an Elite Level Upper Grade Wind Demon Tiger, had Dual Attributes of Wind and Darkness.

"Haha, this kid isn’t simple; if we can recruit him, he’d be a considerable asset," Zhao Peng remarked with a light chuckle.

By evening.

"Isn’t that Skinny? Look at his rank," a student from Class Four said to a classmate.

"Twenty-third, could it be someone with the same name? With his Earth Rock Rat, all it can do is act cute,"

"This is the Skinny from our class. I saw him getting called away by Wang Lu on the first day of the assessment."

"The top student and Wang Lu are childhood friends; could Skinny be teaming up with them?"

"This kid’s lucky! If I were teamed up with the top student, I’d be in the top five by now."

"The luck isn’t just with Skinny; Cold Face too is ranked at twenty-one, and she is surely entering the Elite Class if this continues."

"I guess the top student likes the cold types. Had I known, I would’ve tried to act a bit colder too."

The conversation was full of sourness, with their gazes filled with jealousy.