Tai Shi Bo's words silenced the previously noisy hall.
Everyone's gaze focused on Tai Shi Bo and the person who had just questioned the Ninth Division.
The one who had accused Li Bao'er of the Ninth Division of cheating was a large Fat Man with a long-haired mole on his face.
The large Fat Man looked a bit like a fat catfish from a centuries-old cartoon.
Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but stiffen.
His thick lips trembled, and he forced a smile, "No... nothing!"
Tai Shi Bo glanced indifferently, scanned the Dragon-Tiger Rankings, then ignored them, lowered his head, and soon began to snore.
Those nearby looked closely and realized he was indeed asleep.
Everyone exchanged glances, their conversations intentionally quiet, fearing to wake this individual known as the Little God of Slaughter, after all, a person's reputation precedes him.
Among the various faction leaders present, the two with the highest cultivation were from the Church and the Five Elements Palace.
The Church representative had been frowning ever since arriving, seemingly preoccupied and unwilling to converse.
The Five Elements Palace representative was a very handsome man, draped in a snow-white cloak, the younger brother of Palace Master Long of the Five Elements Palace. He possessed the same elegant nobility as his sister, with long, narrow phoenix eyes that opened and closed with a hint of cold aloofness, his face seemingly screaming, 'Do not approach strangers.'
Since these two weren't speaking loudly, the others naturally didn't dare to wake Tai Shi Bo.
The rankings on the Dragon-Tiger Rankings continued to change.
From the moment Li Bao'er revealed her hand, the top thirty of the Dragon-Tiger Rankings had been incredibly exciting.
In just this short while, the top thirty positions were already being fiercely contested.
The first place on the Dragon-Tiger Rankings had amassed 150,000 god and demon marrow.
Second place had 130,000, third place had 129,000, and the subsequent positions were all very close, feeling like they could be surpassed at any moment.
Many people knew that this was just the beginning.
"I heard someone got 300,000 even before entering!" the middle-aged man who resembled a fat catfish said with a laugh.
Someone immediately chimed in, "The 300,000 that was revealed? The actual amount must be at least double that! A guaranteed 600,000!"
The fat catfish laughed, "600,000, oh my, isn't that clearly aiming for the five-times reward for first place? 600,000, plus if they scavenge another 200,000 inside, that's 800,000, which means they'd get a reward of 4 million god and demon marrow. 4 million god and demon marrow, let alone many lower and middle-tier forces, even some upper-middle-tier forces would feel a pinch trying to produce that much."
Everyone smiled but remained silent. The Dragon-Tiger Rankings were linked to the top hundred rankings of various major forces. The more students a force had on the list, the higher their ranking on the top hundred list. In essence, it was a recruitment brochure.
The god and demon marrow some students carried before entering were basically provided by their respective forces. If everyone cheated, then it was as if no one cheated.
After nearly half an hour of competition, the top thirty had relatively stabilized.
A quick glance showed that they were mostly people from major forces.
The first-place score had directly reached 260,000 points.
How could anyone have 260,000 god and demon marrow right after entering?
Many of the leaders exchanged glances, feeling that these young people were a bit too out of line. How could they do this right after entering? Isn't this directly showing their hand and breaking the rules? Even if the higher-ups turn a blind eye, you shouldn't do this.
Fortunately, everyone had cheated, and although many were frowning, they didn't say anything. After all, everyone tacitly agreed to this rule; background is also part of strength.
The final exam duration was still seven days.
As the first day was nearing its end...
The first place on the Dragon-Tiger Rankings had directly reached 390,000 points.
Tenth place had also reached 140,000 points.
It was completely a battle of the gods.
The gap between tenth and thirtieth place was relatively not that large.
The thirtieth place's god and demon marrow score had already reached 67,000.
Fang Xin had not yet made his move, remaining outside the top thirty. He wasn't in a hurry, just quietly watching how much these so-called prodigies, backed by various forces, could actually produce.
Outside the God and Demon Ruins, within the palace treasure suspended in mid-air.
Elder Ren of the Demon God Alliance, who had clashed with Fang Xin during the midterm exam, had his eyes fixed on Fang Xin's name on the rankings.
Seeing Fang Xin's ranking at twenty-seventh place, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh, this prodigy from the Ninth Division has finally been surpassed by others."
Many people naturally knew who Elder Ren was referring to and couldn't help but look in Fang Xin's direction.
Last time, during the midterm exam, Fang Xin had even made it into the top ten, but this time he had dropped directly to twenty-seventh place.
"Old Ren, that's not right. Everyone understands the top ten, but you can't say he's weak!"
Elder Ren immediately retorted, "Huh? You're actually right about that. Strength-based, everyone understands. It's been so long, isn't it normal for a Muscle-bound Brute of the Strength-based type to be surpassed? What do you still have to question? If there was a lot of room for improvement, think about it, wouldn't the Ninth Division pour resources into cultivating him?"
Many people looked at Fang Xin's ranking. Logically, Fang Xin was previously in tenth place. Even if the top ten were a bit crazy this time, Fang Xin hadn't submitted his god and demon marrow from the midterm exam, and he also had rewards, so his ranking shouldn't be so low.
However, upon closer thought, the further a Strength-based Muscle-bound Brute goes, the harder it is to improve, gradually being surpassed by Awakened with other Talents. This seems to have become a stereotype and also seems plausible.
Elder Ren, seeing Fang Xin's ranking drop so much, was happier than New Year's, chuckling, "There's an old story called 'Wounding Zhongyong,' which pretty much describes this kind of person. A prodigy in youth, but after that critical juncture, he'll fall a thousand feet, losing his former glory. The higher he flies, the harder he falls!"
"Old Ren, you're being a bit one-sided. Strength-based isn't incapable of producing powerhouses. I heard this one is an SSS-grade Strength-based powerhouse, and the upper limit for Strength-based powerhouses is very high."
Elder Ren stirred the tea leaves in his teacup with the lid, scoffing, "The upper limit is high, but how many Strength-based types have broken through? From the last century until now, no more than three Strength-based types have reached the peak, right? And now, in the entire Dragon Country, the only Strength-based Awakened at the pinnacle is that old monk guarding the Number One Temple Under Heaven! Can you name me a second person? No, right? So what if he has SSS-grade Strength Talent? At most, he'll reach twelve-level combat power, that's the absolute limit.
Just watch, the gap will only get bigger and bigger in the future. Those he stepped on before will all surpass him and step on him! I feel that after this final exam, it'll be hard to say if he can even hold onto the top thirty!"
