CHAPTER 86: CHAPTER 83: MARTIAL ARTIST

"42nd place!"

"How did the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall rank so high?"

Valorde from the Cyan Sparrow Gang’s base was surprised as he looked at the latest information displayed on his smart watch, but no matter how many times he checked, the name of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall stayed at 42nd place.

"Gang Leader, could it be a mistake by the Martial Artist Association?" Fisher, who was in the meeting with him, couldn’t help but open her eyes wide.

The Cyan Sparrow Gang had over a thousand members and was widely expected to reach the top thirty, but the final ranking was only 39th place.

As for the White Feather Gang, which was considered strong enough to claim a spot in the top ten, they had lost two quasi-martial artists, and for some unknown reason, they managed to recruit several elite members from the Feather Race. Currently, they have five quasi-martial artists and are ranked only 17th.

The strongest fighter showcased by the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall was merely an extreme apprentice, and previously they lost two advanced apprentices in a battle, making it hard to imagine how they could rank within the top fifty.

"The ranking can’t be wrong, this is information released by the Martial Artist Association." Valorde shook his head and glanced at the high-ranking members around the meeting table, "Our current focus in the Cyan Sparrow Gang is on tasks issued by the Association, the development of Red Moon Mountain, and transactions with companies in the suburbs. Most importantly, we need to rapidly expand our membership and enhance the strength of our gang. Making it into the top fifty this time is just a ticket to the suburbs. Whether we can establish ourselves there depends on our abilities."

"Gang Leader, may I take charge of Red Moon Mountain?" Fluo volunteered.

"The control over Red Moon Mountain is currently with the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. We are just sending people to mine, not responsible for guarding it. It’s not particularly important work. Are you sure you want to go?" Valorde looked at his nephew Fluo with some curiosity.

Now that the Cyan Sparrow Gang is ranked within the top fifty, they have gained the freedom to trade in the suburbs, making it the best time for growth. Choosing a dull supervisory role over a lucrative recruitment opportunity was something Valorde couldn’t understand.

"I’m sure. Currently, we share Red Moon Mountain with the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. Although the White Feather Gang won’t target the energy ore veins there due to the contract, no one can ensure they won’t have other gangs make a move. That’s why I want to supervise it and guarantee our gang’s energy ore." Fluo explained.

"Alright, Isaac certainly won’t let this go. Micro energy ore veins are rare in the wild. Finding another one within a hundred kilometers is uncertain, so it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on." Valorde agreed with Fluo and nodded.

"Thank you, Gang Leader." Fluo’s face immediately lit up with excitement.

While his trip to Red Moon Mountain was indeed for energy ores, a larger motive was to deal with the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. If they could secure an alliance with the Phosphorus Fire Gang, even the top wild gangs would have to avoid them.

Fluo even suspected that the Phosphorus Fire Gang secretly assisted in getting the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to rank 42nd, indicating that they hold a significant place in the Phosphorus Fire Gang’s eyes, furthering his desire to strengthen ties with the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.

While the Cyan Sparrow Gang was taken aback by the ranking of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, other major gangs in the Abandoned Area who heard the news were equally shocked. It was already astonishing that one emerging gang, through a fierce struggle, managed to defeat the White Feather Gang. Now, they’re ranked as 42nd, leaving others baffled.

For weaker gangs and the vagabond Black registered citizens, the ranking was a source of admiration for the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. But for those within the top 100 gangs, especially those knocked out of the top 50, it was a cause of anger.

Never mind the Cyan Sparrow Gang and White Feather Gang, what merits did the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall have to enter the top fifty?

Abandoned Area, Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.

"Do you think the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s high ranking is unusual this time?" Qin Mu asked with a smile, seeing the puzzled Lin Qi.

"It’s indeed a bit odd." Lin Qi nodded, "I thought making it into the top eighty would be good already."

"Under normal circumstances, given the overall strength of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, they indeed wouldn’t qualify." Qin Mu chuckled and explained, "But our Human Race has some influence within the Martial Artist Association. Especially since a certain senior knows there are some genius apprentices in the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, they highly regard them. So, a little influence was used to allow the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall into the top fifty to secure suburban trading rights first."

"A Human Race senior?" Lin Qi was slightly surprised, not expecting there to be a master willing to help the vagabond of their Human Race.

In Lin Qi’s perception, official residents living in Chasing Light City never considered vagabond citizens as equals, regardless of their race.

For vagabond citizens to become official residents of Chasing Light City usually required being at least a quasi-martial artist, while martial artists were in high demand in every city and were naturally granted official residency upon application.

"That senior holds a high position and has always been concerned about the Human Race. Just that he’s not usually present in Chasing Light City. You’re lucky he happens to be in Chasing Light City right now. If you one day advance to a martial artist, you might even meet him," Qin Mu nodded with a smile, "However, the senior’s influence allowed the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to enter the top fifty. If other races’ high-level figures learn about this, it might affect the senior. So, this information should be kept between us."

"Understood, thank you, Brother Qin Mu, for letting me know." Lin Qi nodded. He wasn’t foolish enough to let such good news slip and risk upsetting such an influential Human Race figure.

Just as Qin Mu was about to relay relevant information about entering the top fifty to Lin Qi, a commotion erupted outside the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, prompting Lin Qi and Qin Mu to leave the lounge.

They saw a hover car slowly coming to a stop on the playground of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.

"Looks like someone from the Association has arrived." Qin Mu, seeing the Martial Artists Association’s emblem on the flying car, explained, "Generally, when an outdoor gang first enters the top hundred, the Association sends someone to provide the relevant explanation and inform them of some obligations."

"Did the Martial Artists Association personally send someone?" Lin Qi was quite surprised as he looked at the flying car, not expecting the Association to value the gangs ranked in the top one hundred in the wilderness so highly.

In his understanding, the Martial Artists Association was the core power of Chasing Light City, standing high above and jointly managing the city with experts from various races.

To join the Martial Artists Association usually required becoming a quasi-martial artist, unless one was a young genius who passed the tests. Now, the Association sending someone specifically was a huge privilege.

At this moment, not only was Lin Qi surprised, but many other players repairing the Martial Arts Hall gathered at the entrance of the training grounds, looking in awe at the flying car.

Although the flying car wasn’t big, about the size of a medium transportation vehicle, its ability to fly was enough to make everyone envious.

As the crowd discussed the sudden arrival of the flying car, a middle-aged man of the Half-Scale Race wearing B5 Battle Armor stepped out from it. Although the man was only about 2.3 meters tall, the moment he stepped out of the car, everyone present felt a suffocating pressure.

This was especially true for the apprentices sensitive to blood qi, who felt an overwhelming wave crashing toward them, far beyond what a quasi-martial artist could compare to.

"A martial artist?" Lin Qi was also extremely shocked as he observed the middle-aged man of the Half-Scale Race.

Although he had long known that below a martial artist, those in the eyes of a martial artist were like ants, it was only now seeing it firsthand that he realized even an extreme quasi-martial artist was a joke in front of a martial artist. The two were simply not the same kind of being.

"Lord Feng Geling, why have you come personally?" Qin Mu was somewhat surprised seeing the middle-aged man of the Half-Scale Race.

"Are you the kid who tested at the Association recently?" the man named Feng Geling glanced at Qin Mu and said casually, "It’s my turn on duty this time, so naturally, I came."

"Brother Lin, let me introduce you, this is Lord Feng Geling, the steward of the Martial Artists Association." Qin Mu quickly introduced, "Lord Feng Geling, this is the Hall Master of Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, the person in charge of the Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall."

"You are the one in charge of Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall?" Feng Geling’s gaze swept over to Lin Qi, his expression indifferent.

"That would be me." Lin Qi responded respectfully.

"Alright, I came to inform you of some rights and obligations for outdoor gangs." Feng Geling then took out a stack of documents and tossed them directly to Lin Qi, "However, since Qin Mu is here, I’ll save myself some trouble. Here is the task from the Association, and Qin Mu will tell you the rest later."

After speaking, Feng Geling returned to the flying car and drove off directly, leaving the Abandoned Area.

"A task from the Association?" Lin Qi regarded Feng Geling’s indifferent attitude indifferently, understanding that top experts in the world of Gao Wu were generally like this. He then looked rather confused at the stack of documents in his hand.

Though Qin Mu had mentioned earlier, based on different rankings of outdoor gangs, the business they could get in the suburbs also varied. With benefits came obligations or rather, the obligations of the vagabonds.

Vagabonds from different Abandoned Areas have mandatory obligations they must fulfill yearly, or they would be driven out of the city directly.

The more powerful the Abandoned Area, the fewer the sacrifices. Besides, the vagabonds living in the Abandoned Area have this compulsory task, and outdoor gangs in the top hundred have compulsory tasks too.

These compulsory tasks are even more dangerous than those of the vagabonds. Generally, they involve arranging a transportation route.

This transportation route is for delivering necessary supplies to nearby towns, but due to the large quantity needed, a lot of manpower is required. Chasing Light City does not have enough workforce for this, and it’s very dangerous, so outdoor gangs are forced to do it. Usually, a supply run once a month suffices, completing it once a year.

Lin Qi was just surprised that this task was specifically issued by the Association.

"I really didn’t expect Lord Feng Geling to come personally." Qin Mu watched the departing flying car and slowly said, "This Lord Feng Geling is not simple. He has his own company in the suburbs and engages in trade with several major towns nearby. He probably sees the potential of Black Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, hence made a special trip. You should check what the task is."

"Alright."

Lin Qi nodded, understanding what Qin Mu meant.

The many companies in the suburbs generally do business not only with local residents but also sell goods to nearby towns. Therefore, a strong gang is needed for long-distance transportation; the stronger the gang, the safer the transport of goods. Feng Geling making a special trip was not unusual.

As Lin Qi opened the documents to look at the tasks issued by the Association, Qin Mu, also looking on, furrowed his brows slightly.

"Brother Lin, did you have a grudge with Lord Feng Geling in the past?" Qin Mu looked at Lin Qi curiously.