Chapter 61: Divine Rankings and Misunderstandings

–Oh, just relax, Xiyue, with my grandfather here, you can rest assured.After all, if he makes a move, even if she wanted to die, it would be difficult.Don’t worry.–Chi Congyu declared over the phone, her tone imbued with a certain haughtiness.

–Alright, please give my regards to your grandfather.I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll leave things there to you and Yun’er.I’ll make time to thank your grandfather personally.Goodbye.–

For some inexplicable reason, Ouyang Xiyue felt a pang of discomfort.

The person he had been yearning for, wishing upon stars and moons, was on the verge of being revived, yet a subtle ache resonated within him.

He had sacrificed his marriage, his lifelong happiness, all for a complete stranger.

He could not discern if he was simply too kind-hearted or utterly foolish; was it truly worth it to do so much for someone he did not even know?

Nevertheless, it was a decision Ouyang Xiyue had made himself.

At this point, even if he harbored regrets, there was no turning back, for no such thing as a ‘regret medicine’ existed in this world.

The Pope had already begun the rescue efforts; he certainly couldn’t just rush over now and declare he had changed his mind, abandoning the rescue.

That would be utterly insane, wouldn’t it?

–Hello, Xiyue, there’s something I haven’t asked you about.

You’ve been at the academy for a while now; have you learned anything about the Academy’s Heaven and Earth Rankings?–

“Huh?The Heaven and Earth Rankings?

Yes, I’ve certainly heard of them, but as for understanding them, not really.

Ever since I arrived at school, I’ve been swamped with a mountain of troublesome affairs, unable to extricate myself.

Where would I find the leisure to learn about some Heaven and Earth Rankings?

I’m incredibly busy, you know, with a thousand things to attend to every day.

Could you elaborate a bit?”Ouyang Xiyue, seated in a café chair, propped his chin in his hand, his face etched with worry.

‘Oh, why?

Why is campus life so utterly different from what I imagined before coming here?

It’s driving me mad, a never-ending stream of bothersome things…’

“Well then, I’ll give you a simple explanation.

The Heaven and Earth Rankings are quite straightforward; they are merely the academy’s power rankings.

Above the Earth Ranking is the Heaven Ranking.

The rules are simple: you can replace someone’s position by defeating them on the list.

Of course, you must act within your capabilities and know when to stop.

If your strength isn’t sufficient, challenging someone with a higher rank is no different from courting death.”

“Oh,” Ouyang Xiyue uttered, tapping the table with his fingers, his reply devoid of much interest.

It was evident that at this moment, he paid little heed to what the other person was saying.

“Oh?What kind of reaction is that?

Right, another thing: if someone on the rankings is dispatched by the academy for a mission or to gain experience, their challenges will be delayed.

You’ll have to wait until they return to challenge them.

That’s about all there is to it.”

“It’s nothing.

Which ranking are you on now?

What’s your rank?”Ouyang Xiyue asked casually, for he was in no mood to concern himself with such trivial matters.

Earlier that morning, Ling’er had conveyed a message: Master had been missing for a considerable time, their whereabouts unknown.

Ouyang Xiyue was now consumed with worry, uncertain of what to do.

He feared for Master, yet he knew deep down that with their formidable strength, how could anything possibly go wrong?

Still, there was always the ‘what if’… after all, the world was vast beyond comprehension…

The Eastern Continent, where they resided, was merely a fragment of myriad worlds.

As for the worlds beyond the Eastern Continent, he himself had no knowledge, given that there were still many places within the Eastern Continent he had yet to visit.

For now, he could only pray that Jian Laifeng was safe, knowing full well that he was powerless to do anything else but deal with the current spate of troublesome affairs.

“Me?I’m currently ranked seventh on the Divine Ranking.”

“The Divine Ranking?

Isn’t it the Heaven and Earth Rankings?

Where did this Divine Ranking suddenly appear from?”Ouyang Xiyue, hearing the reply, finally showed a flicker of interest.

‘A place to display strength?

Hmm, it does align somewhat with my purpose for coming to the academy.

It seems worth a try, but…’

“Please, for goodness sake, just finish what you’re saying in one go,” Ouyang Xiyue remarked, tapping his forehead.

“Strictly speaking, the Earth Ranking is the weakest, followed by the Heaven Ranking.

Once you enter the top ten of the Heaven Ranking, you can challenge the Divine Ranking, and the rules are the same.

As for the benefits, there are cultivation resources, certain privileges, and of course, widespread fame.

The higher your rank, the greater your authority.

Essentially, once you enter the Divine Ranking, you can do as you please within the academy.

Even if you don’t show up every day, it won’t matter; the teachers won’t interfere.

However, you must also be careful when outside, as you can’t tarnish the academy’s reputation.”

Indeed, the Heaven and Earth Rankings, along with the Divine Ranking, serve as symbols of your strength.

No matter how powerful you are, if your information isn’t on the rankings, you will inevitably face skepticism.

As just mentioned, cultivation resources are vital in this vast world.

After all, one cannot become stronger by merely sitting idle.

Even with immense effort, without sufficient external aid, it would all be in vain, simply a waste of precious time.

“Hey, Night Xuehui, why do I always feel as though you’re more long-winded than before?

Rumor has it that you’re utterly indifferent to everyone.

So why are you being so chatty with me now?

Could it be that you’re—”As Ouyang Xiyue spoke, his eyes, filled with a suggestive glint, turned towards Night Xuehui, who sat beside him with a stern expression.

Indeed, the one explaining the rules to Ouyang Xiyue was none other than Night Xuehui.

Ouyang Xiyue had sought out Night Xuehui because of the previous incident, but since everything had turned out fine, the two had simply found a café and engaged in idle chatter about various inconsequential things.

It was apparent that during their conversation, Ouyang Xiyue wore an expression of utter weariness, seemingly unwilling to utter another word, while Night Xuehui, in contrast, appeared more animated than usual.

Moreover, in the eyes of outsiders, didn’t the two of them just seem like…

“Mama, Mama, look quickly!

The big brother and big sister at the next table are so beautiful and handsome!

This is exactly what the teacher meant by a perfect match, a divinely ordained union, a pair born for each other…”The child’s words trailed off as they began to strike a pose, as if about to recite poetry, but their mouth was swiftly covered by the woman beside them.

The woman offered an embarrassed smile.

“Ahem, I apologize; my child is ill-mannered.

However… if I may be frank… I actually don’t think my child said anything wrong.

Ahem, excuse us…”

You see, that’s precisely how it was.

To outsiders, the two of them simply appeared to be a couple, for their striking good looks naturally drew attention.

Furthermore, cafés are typically frequented by couples, so… misunderstandings were quite normal.

No, I don’t mean that cafés are exclusively for couples; what I mean is… this particular café in Sheng Hai was a renowned establishment known for attracting couples.

Since it wasn’t a holiday, there were no students in the café, only ordinary people enjoying coffee.

They were either alone or accompanied by their children.

From their perspective, they were already past their prime, unable to keep up with the times, so they simply brought their children along for a drink.

“Pfft…”The coffee Ouyang Xiyue had just taken a sip of was abruptly spewed out.

And then…

Night Xuehui, seated opposite Ouyang Xiyue, became the unfortunate victim.

Unable to dodge in time, she was sprayed directly in the face.

Seeing the havoc he had wreaked, Ouyang Xiyue quickly stood up, grabbed a tissue, and began frantically wiping Night Xuehui’s face.

“Ouyang!Xiyue!

Stop it right now!

You’re a grown man; what haven’t you seen in this world?

It’s just a few casual remarks from others.

I’m going to wash my face; you just stay put, quietly.”Night Xuehui’s forehead throbbed with bulging veins as she suppressed her anger and headed to the restroom.

After splashing her face with cool water, Night Xuehui couldn’t help but recall everything that had just transpired.

‘A match made in heaven?

Me and her…

Ugh, what am I even thinking?

Xiyue, she is a girl, just like me!

She’s a girl!’

‘How could I harbor such improper thoughts about her?

But… yuri, ahem… No, no, no!’Night Xuehui vigorously slapped her own face, thinking her thoughts were far too dangerous.

After calming down for a moment, she exited the restroom.

“I apologize for what just happened.

Also, with your strength, are you only ranked seventh on the Heaven Ranking?

I would have thought you were first.”Ouyang Xiyue asked curiously, eager to know which other monstrous talents possessed strength that surpassed even those already considered prodigies among prodigies.

From this, it was clear that Ouyang Xiyue’s perspective was still somewhat limited, for the vast world contained countless wonders.

Yet, truthfully, among the peers Ouyang Xiyue had encountered who were of similar age, Night Xuehui’s strength could arguably be ranked first; it was terrifying.

She hadn’t used her true power in the last competition; otherwise… it would be hard to say who would have emerged victorious.

“Yes, because those above me are all incredibly powerful.

I forgot to mention, the Divine Ranking differs from the Heaven and Earth Rankings in that the latter are exclusively for students, while the Divine Ranking is open to challenges from seniors and elders.

Consequently, there are innumerable masters, and one must be exceedingly cautious, as even a single misstep could lead to instant defeat.”

“But if that’s the case, and only students can participate in the Heaven and Earth Rankings, with only the top ten of the Heaven Ranking able to challenge the Divine Ranking, then how do those who are no longer students participate?”Ouyang Xiyue mused, stroking his chin as he began to listen intently to Night Xuehui’s explanation.

Given the opportunity to challenge seniors, he would undoubtedly gain much, so it seemed necessary for him to investigate further.

“To challenge the Divine Ranking, one’s age must be over 25.

If not, they are all considered students and can only challenge the Divine Ranking by entering the top ten of the Heaven Ranking.

The difference between the Heaven Ranking and the Earth Ranking isn’t actually that significant.

Once you reach the Divine Ranking, trust me, you will benefit immensely.

Alright, if you have nothing else, it’s time for me to go.

After all, school will be out soon, and it wouldn’t be good if students saw us.

I’d prefer some peace and quiet.”Night Xuehui said, then rose and walked to the counter, tossed down a handful of gold coins, and turned to leave.

Watching Night Xuehui turn and depart, Ouyang Xiyue pondered, ‘Does she really dislike being seen with me by our classmates so much?

Am I truly that annoying?

Oh well, that person’s thoughts are essentially the same as mine; it’s all for peace and quiet.

And also, is that person so great just because they’re rich?

Throwing so many gold coins for a coffee?

I recall ten silver coins being enough, right?

Forget it, their wealth allows them to be capricious, unlike me, a ‘second-generation negative’.

It’s time to head back.’

‘I wonder how things turned out.

I hope it’s already resolved.

Ah, well, I should just let it go,’ Ouyang Xiyue thought, then walked to the counter, placed his coffee, paid, and departed.

The café cashier, however, was utterly bewildered.

‘Weren’t these two together?

How… The money was clearly enough, but… Strange things happen every year, but this year seems to have an abundance of them…!’