CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 82: RANKING

The morning sun rose, and the weather at the end of September had gradually turned cold.

However, in front of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall in the Human Race Abandoned Area, it was already crowded with undocumented vagabonds repairing the hall, each one as joyful as if they were celebrating a festival.

The repair of the martial arts hall’s outer walls was done with utmost care, as if fearing it wouldn’t be perfect enough, they were even more meticulous compared to when repairing their own houses.

"Old Luo, you’re really lucky. Today is the last day of work, and you were chosen by the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to become a long-term worker, specializing in renovating the hall from now on." A middle-aged man in his forties looked enviously at a sturdy man in his fifties, "The Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall offers a monthly payment of one thousand bits to long-term workers. Because of this pay, there have been thousands of applicants in the past few days, but only fifty got selected."

"Old Wang, I’m just good with handicrafts. The hall master appreciated my craftsmanship and kept me on to make various furniture for the martial arts hall," the man called Old Luo chuckled.

"Look at how happy you are." The middle-aged man glanced at the busy folks inside the hall and sighed, "But who would have thought? Two days ago, the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall gained fame after the battle at Red Moon Mountain. Now, all the wild gangs have to show some respect to the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. Even when we undocumented vagabonds go outdoors, we encounter fewer troubles. It’s a pity that the martial arts hall isn’t accepting apprentices right now, or I would want my daughter, who’s working in the suburbs, to join."

"Who wouldn’t think so?" Old Luo also sighed, "I’ve heard that now whenever members of the wild gangs see people wearing those dark gray long-sleeved T-shirts, they avoid them. And Luo Qi, who was very close to Hall Master Lin, is now being sought after at high prices by other weapon shops in the suburbs because she holds a credential mark from the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. Finally, that cunning Cangjing Iron Rooster hired Luo Qi as a senior employee, which is a treatment only senior mechanicians receive, thus retaining her."

The wages offered by the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to their long-term workers are not inferior to the pay for vagabonds working in the suburbs. However, more precious to them than the pay is the identity status granted by the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.

In the world of high martial arts, danger lurks everywhere, even in the suburbs, not to mention outside the suburbs.

Now, due to the battle at Red Moon Mountain, the strength of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall has been recognized by many wild gangs. For everyone associated with the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, it’s like having an invisible protective charm, significantly increasing their safety levels by two or three tiers.

It can even be said that outdoors, it’s more useful than having the formal resident status of Chasing Light City.

"I wonder what rank the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall will achieve this time. If it can get into the top eighty of the outdoor gangs, maybe we can even strive for a neighborhood closer to the suburbs. In the future, it will be much more convenient whether going to work or shopping in the suburbs." The middle-aged man named Old Wang nostalgically said, "Over twenty years ago, us human race vagabonds had four neighborhoods in the suburbs. We had our shops and companies there, and the cost of living was lower. Unfortunately, as those powerful races rose, the cost allocated to us increased, and now without formal residency, we can’t even afford to live in the suburbs."

"There’s no helping it. The city needs martial artists for protection; martial artists are everything." Old Luo sighed, "I don’t know about those who left for other cities back then, how they’re doing now. I heard outside, in other cities, there are barely any humans left. Some cities directly refuse to accept weaker races, or treat them entirely as disposable materials."

"From the information I’ve gathered over the years, nearby cities all treat them as consumables, forcing them to supply transportation for outdoor bases, or drive them away forcibly." Old Wang sighed, looking at the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall with some hope, "It’s unimaginable for the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to produce martial artists, but if it can break into the top fifty of outdoor gangs, fewer people would die here each year."

The rankings of outdoor gangs in Chasing Light City are not just for show; they grant certain recognized rights.

The higher the ranking, the greater the rights bestowed, especially concerning the number of vagabonds from each race required for military service each year. The higher the rank, the fewer people need to serve.

In the past, every year, one thousand human race vagabonds were drawn by lot for a year-long duty of transporting supplies between outdoor bases, with their survival depending solely on luck. Only less than thirty percent survived a year, with a death rate that could be said to be extremely high.

Typically, if a gang can reach the 50th position, they can exempt a hundred people. For the top 50, a total of two hundred can be exempted. For the top 20, it’s 300; for the top 10, 500. If a race has multiple gangs, the highest ranking counts.

This really makes the strong grow stronger and the weak grow weaker among the vagabonds of different races in the Abandoned Area.

Of course, there are some exceptions. The Crystal Race was an exception; all their more than thirty top experts perished during military service, causing their vagabond status to plummet, forcing them to withdraw from the suburban living area.

"That might be somewhat challenging. The top fifty are all big gangs like the Cyan Sparrow Gang, with over a thousand members under them. After all, the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall has just risen and needs time to accumulate strength." Old Luo shook his head, feeling that the chances for the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to enter the top fifty were slim, but entering the top eighty was very promising.

As Old Luo and Old Wang conversed, far away, a one-eyed giant over two meters tall slowly approached the entrance of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, drawing the curiosity of many vagabonds.

"Why is Old Qin here?" Old Luo looked at Qin Mu, who was reporting to the martial arts hall, feeling puzzled.

As the strongest fighter in the Human Race Abandoned Area, Qin Mu was always busy, and it was rare for people from the abandoned area to see him resting.

It was early in the morning, and normally Qin Mu would head to work in the suburbs. But now, with a joyful expression on his face as he arrived, it was all the more peculiar.

The players saw Qin Mu as if they were seeing a BOSS-level NPC. Their impression from the test assessment was extremely deep, and they respectfully led Qin Mu to Lin Qi’s lounge.

"Old Zhen, do you think this assessment NPC looking for the Hall Master might mean they’re going to open the new map, Red Moon Mountain?" Just after logging into Twilight of the Gods, seeing Qin Mu enter the lounge, Fang Zhen couldn’t help but say excitedly.

After two days of waiting, players speculated that the game company might indeed open the truly new map, Red Moon Mountain. After all, the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall held sixty percent of Red Moon Mountain’s share, so it only made sense for Black Obsidian to manage it.

The new map, Red Moon Mountain, is clearly much larger than the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, likely as a preparation for welcoming a massive influx of new players, a move by the game company.

By then, Red Moon Mountain might just become a beginner’s village.

If these test players could receive some early tasks from the beginner’s village, it would greatly aid them in settling in the beginner’s village in the future.

"It’s very possible. Two NPC giants meeting has always been a big event before, and this time is probably no different." Fang Zhen nodded, also looking expectantly at the closed door of the lounge.

Since the end of the main storyline battle at Red Moon Mountain, the thirty players had gained a basic score of over three thousand, killing an elite earned ten thousand points, and each of the two BOSSes gave one hundred thousand points, making it a huge windfall for the players.

Unfortunately, after the three squads pooled their money to buy an A6-level weapon each, they all became penniless, only hoping for more new storyline tasks to earn enough points to exchange for a B2-level weapon. Then they could earn points and contributions quickly through the maze tunnel.

They wouldn’t have to struggle for three days just to kill a Single-Horned Gold-devouring Rat anymore, not knowing how long it would take to become elite disciples and have their own private room in the Martial Arts Hall.

Today’s Descent of High Martial isn’t what it was more than ten days ago. Several of the new players are members of major guilds from other virtual games. With High Martial Descent gaining more popularity, it’s catching their attention, meaning future competition will be more intense.

If we don’t work harder now to widen the gap, as more players join, those major guilds’ advantages will also grow bigger, just like Celestial Might now. Among seventy players, there are already five former Celestial Might members, and their numerical advantage will only expand, with more and more experts.

"Otherwise, should I also tell Captain Li and those outside to let the team members come to Descent of High Martial to develop?"

Fang Zhen suddenly felt it was necessary to convince Li Ranxing and others. After all, the professional team members of Mecha Continent have been carefully selected as top players. Once they enter High Martial Descent, they could quickly form a battle force and may indeed contend with Celestial Might.

Those who’ve played High Martial Descent like Li Ranxing should also understand that Mecha Continent is already a thing of the past. The future surely belongs to High Martial Descent, so for professional players who only want to make money, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

As Fang Zhen pondered how to persuade Li Ranxing, inside the quiet Hall Master lounge,

the giant-like Qin Mu pulled out a purple-gold metal token from his pocket and handed it directly to Lin Qi.

"Congratulations, Brother Lin," Qin Mu said excitedly. "According to the Martial Artist Association’s evaluation, Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall is now ranked 42nd in the wilderness! With this, Black Obsidian not only qualifies to cooperate with some big companies in the suburbs but can even rent a shop there, freely trading goods without being extorted by suburban gangs."

"42nd! So high?"

Looking at the number 42 imprinted on the token, Lin Qi couldn’t help but be a little surprised.

He had learned quite a bit about the wilderness gang rankings from Luo Qi. Normally, with Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s displayed strength, it should fall outside the top fifty, not to mention the sparse numbers which could place it in the seventies or eighties. After all, the ranking reflects a gang’s comprehensive strength, not individual force.

Achieving a position in the top fifty of the wilderness means even undocumented vagabonds could rent a shop in the suburbs and open up their own store, openly selling wilderness gains, enjoying protection from Chasing Light City.

Obtaining this right means truly establishing a foothold in the wilderness, no longer being an unknown entity of Chasing Light City.

At the same time Lin Qi received the ranking token, the vagabonds living in the Abandoned Area, who regularly paid attention to the wilderness gang rankings, as well as members of various gangs, all received the latest information on the rankings.

Suddenly, the entire Abandoned Area was thrown into turmoil!