Chapter 138: The Tenth on the Ranking... Just Fell Like That?

"What!? It's a disciple from Star Observation Academy!?"

"Are those guys looking for death? How dare they provoke a prodigy from a second-rate sect!"

"Can't disciples from Star Observation Academy make a move inside the city? The Ironclad Department has strict regulations."

"A second-rate sect doesn't fear the Ironclad Department; you must have never joined one."

The martial artists on the entire street were gathering here. Hearing Zhang Ning announce his affiliation, whispers erupted immediately.

This time, due to the Water Qilin Cave incident, the Yunwen Provincial Capital had already attracted a considerable number of martial artists.

Most came from first-rate and second-rate sects, with some third-rate sect disciples tagging along as filler.

Only a tiny fraction of them were lucky enough to qualify for entering the Water Qilin Cave.

Most likely, only Sect Masters or the like.

Even so, many martial artists without spots had, upon hearing the news, converged on the Yunwen Provincial Capital.

For no other reason than to attend this grand event and broaden their horizons.

Zhang Ning seemed exhilarated by the growing crowd paying attention to him, his face flushing with excitement.

With a light leap, he landed steadily on the ground from the second floor, which was three or four meters high.

Yang Ling scanned him:

Character: Zhang Ning

Level: 20

Strength: 22

Agility: 18

Spirit: 12

Martial Arts: Bright Perception Heart Technique (Third-Rate, Comprehensive Mastery)

Vast Palm (Third-Rate, Comprehensive Mastery)

"This... he's not even Ninth-Rank, is he?"

Yang Ling's expression turned somewhat odd.

This guy was the bottom-feeder of the Divine Realm Level Ranking.

After Hui Wu died, he appeared in tenth place.

But looking at him now, this guy was way overrated.

He was still far from Ninth-Rank.

"No, maybe it's that our group's quality is just too high. Zhang Ning's level probably represents the average player."

"Right now, millions of players have entered the Divine Realm. Only a tiny fraction are at his level; the vast majority are still struggling to get by, without access to martial arts."

As he thought this, another commotion came from over there.

One of the burly men Zhang Ning had knocked down glared at him with wide eyes:

"Why did you attack us!?"

The others' eyes flickered:

"Even if you're a disciple of Star Observation Academy, you can't be so domineering."

"I was just drinking and chatting; I didn't offend you..."

"You didn't offend me? I just wanted to enjoy my wine in peace, but you were too noisy. You made my ears hurt—isn't that an offense?"

Zhang Ning let out a light laugh: "Kneel down and kowtow to me three times, and I'll let you off like you were nothing but a fart. Otherwise, I'll give you a taste of some flesh-and-blood pain!"

"Is he that Zhang Ning?"

Lin Caiyi and the others exchanged glances.

By now, Qin Mo's face had turned green with anger.

At the same time, several Ninth-Rank constables pushed through the crowd and arrived before Zhang Ning.

The leading constable frowned and said:

"What happened? Don't you know fighting isn't allowed within the city?"

"Imperial lackeys."

Zhang Ning shot them a glance and said flatly:

"These guys disturbed my peace, so I gave them a little lesson. You came just in time—arrest them and lock them up for a while; that'll teach them to behave."

The constables frowned slightly. After questioning the men on the ground, they got a rough picture of what happened.

The leading constable looked at Zhang Ning and said coolly:

"From Star Observation Academy?"

"That's right."

Zhang Ning's face showed arrogance.

"Come back with us."

The leading constable said.

Zhang Ning was momentarily stunned. He frowned:

"I'm from Star Observation Academy, and you're telling me to go with you?"

"So what if you're from Star Observation Academy? Even if someone from the Four Top-Tier Sects starts a fight in the city for no reason, they still have to come with us."

The leading constable said with a cold laugh.

"That's what I said—how can you just start a fight in the city?"

"This rookie clearly doesn't know the rules."

A wave of murmurs arose from the onlookers.

Zhang Ning's expression shifted slightly, looking embarrassed.

He flicked his sleeve and said, "I can't be bothered arguing with you lot."

With that, he turned to leave.

The leading constable's face darkened, and he stepped forward to block him.

Smack—

Zhang Ning suddenly whipped his hand back and slapped him across the face, snapping:

"Get out of my way! Don't defile my righteous aura!"

"Is this guy an idiot?"

Li Shou looked at Zhang Shendao.

Zhang Shendao gestured with his chin toward Qin Mo.

Only then did Li Shou notice Qin Mo's face was ashen, practically steaming with rage.

Lin Caiyi and Jiang Tian'ai were also a bit stunned. They had come to the Divine Realm trying to keep a low profile.

But this guy was acting incredibly high-profile.

Was Star Observation Academy somehow more impressive than the Four Top-Tier Sects?

"You dare resist arrest!?"

The leading constable was furious. He immediately drew his Official Saber.

The others also pulled their sabers and surrounded him.

"You imperial lackeys deserve to die!"

Zhang Ning was now in a tight spot. There was no way he was backing down in front of so many people—absolutely not!

He just wanted to get out of here as fast as possible, meet up with his sect elders, and then demand an explanation from the Ironclad Department!

With that thought, Zhang Ning struck!

Although the constables weren't very strong—probably weaker than Zhang Ning—they moved with coordination and skill, forming an encirclement.

"For bandits attacking Ironclad constables in the street, defying the laws of Zhao State—death is the sentence!"

With a loud shout, a saber struck Zhang Ning in the shoulder.

He cried out in pain and quickly raised his hand:

"Wait, let me take a Golden Sore Medicine!"

Slash!

His hand was instantly severed!

Zhang Ning let out a agonized scream.

The nearby martial artists, witnessing this, also changed expressions.

Then several Official Sabers descended, the sound of flesh being cut ringing out continuously.

Amidst his screams, Zhang Ning was hacked to the ground, his blood staining his white scholar's robe.

A blade even struck his face, flesh curling outward.

His HP plummeted visibly until it hit zero.

"I..."

Zhang Ning opened his mouth, blood filling his eyes. He could only vaguely see the man standing over him, looking down with a gaze of contempt.

Thump, thump!

A few more cuts, and Zhang Ning was immediately dead.

After finishing the deed, the leading Ironclad constable looked at the beaten martial artists:

"Come with me to the Ironclad Department office to give a statement."

"Fine!"

The martial artists showed no fear at all; instead, they nodded excitedly.

Soon, Zhang Ning's body was taken away by the constables, along with the victims.

Then others appeared and began cleaning up the bloodstains on the street.

Seeing there was no more excitement, the nearby martial artists dispersed.

Those who were drinking went back to drinking; those shopping went back to shopping.

Their mouths were all abuzz with excitement about what had just happened.

A disciple of Star Observation Academy had died just like that—both regrettable and a great topic of conversation.

"This..."

Lin Caiyi and the others exchanged glances.

The tenth on the ranking... had just fallen like that?

Qin Mo chuckled and sat back down:

"The laws of Zhao State are strict. If both sides had been ordinary martial artists from the underworld, things probably wouldn't have escalated this far. Zhang Ning's mistake was attacking the Ironclad constables."

"Amitabha. Old Qin, I want to become a constable too."

Li Shou looked at Qin Mo with a serious expression.