NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10: Chen Ziming Unhinged!
As Gu Xing's figure disappeared at the end of the square, the other participants were gradually teleported back.
When Chen Ziming appeared in the center of the square holding the succubus, he was immediately surrounded by a group of fawning students.
"Young Master Chen, surely you'll be the first in this trial, right? An Epic-level Guardian Beast is simply unbeatable."
"I guess Young Master Chen got at least 3000 points! Such a score would be a historic first even in past years!"
"3000 points? Doesn't that mean the potential rating is close to S-Class? We're witnessing history here!"
Listening to the flattery, Chen Ziming's mouth almost reached his ears.
He squeezed the succubus in his arms tightly, his fingers restlessly rubbing her waist.
Originally, he had always been the synonym of a wastrel in Lin Yuan City.
But ever since contracting this Epic-level Guardian Beast...
He not only shed the infamous title of "wastrel trash" but received praise wherever he went.
Thinking about this, he felt even more satisfied with the succubus in his arms.
"Mei'Er," he whispered into the succubus's ear, lowering his voice, "Tonight I'll reward you well, and tomorrow I'll take you to the Alternate Space to level up."
Upon hearing this, the succubus blushed immediately, her long eyelashes trembling slightly:
"I-I'll listen to whatever brother Ziming says..."
This appearance of wanting but resisting made Chen Ziming's whole body burning with desire, wishing he could take her home right away.
But seeing the still-unannounced point rankings, he held back his urge.
After all, this was his moment of glory under the spotlight; how could he miss it?
Needless to say, Chen Ziming spared no effort for this trial.
He not only relied on the succubus's power but secretly spent a fortune to hire a five-man team.
The team was responsible for severely wounding magic beasts to near-death, while he delivered the final blow.
At this moment, feeling the Tier Four Awakening power inside him, Chen Ziming curled his lips smugly.
Though considered cunning, this method was undeniably effective—
His level rose sharply, and his points skyrocketed.
"Look! The rankings have been announced!"
With an exclamation, the entire square erupted.
Everyone's eyes focused immediately on the large screen at the center of the square.
The rankings began to appear from the last place.
[Rank 187: Zhang Wei, Points 85, Potential Rating D]
[Rank 163: Li Na, Points 112, Potential Rating D]
...
Cheers and sighs erupted sporadically from the crowd.
As the list scrolled to the top ten, the tension in the square heightened.
The top ten were announced differently, with each name stopping individually, accompanied by special sound effects.
[Rank 10: Wang Hao, Points 890, Potential Rating B]
[Rank 9: Liu Fang, Points 902, Potential Rating B]
...
At the square's center, Chen Ziming held the succubus triumphantly, a confident smile on his lips.
Surrounded by flattering voices one after another:
"Young Master Chen is surely maintaining first place this time!"
"Obviously, who else could have the strength to seize first place besides Young Master Chen?"
Enjoying the crowd's adoration, Chen Ziming twirled succubus's hair playfully, imagining the scene of receiving the city lord's award.
However—
"Am I seeing things? Why is Young Master Chen's name in second place?"
This voice was like a thunderbolt, instantly shattering Chen Ziming's dream.
He jerked his head, staring fiercely at the glaring numbers on the screen:
[Rank 2: Chen Ziming, Points 4100, Potential Rating A]
"Impossible!"
Chen Ziming's eyes were wide open, his voice changed sharply.
Second!
How could he be second!
4100 points, such a score already created history in Lin Yuan City, how could he be second?
Chen Ziming's eyes reddened, glaring at the large screen at the square's center.
Who?
Who stole his first place?!
The succubus in Chen Ziming's arms also stiffened.
She was always watching the list, aiming to check her abandoned former owner's ranking.
Yet no familiar name appeared from last place to second.
Such a situation sank her heart.
The next moment, a terrifying suspicion chilled her to the bone!
Could Gu Xing be first?!
The succubus immediately shook her head, trying to dismiss the absurd possibility.
No way!
Absolutely no way!
That person only had a contract with a crippled angel...
How could she lose to such a "defective" thing!
But often what one fears, reality tends to develop in that direction.
Under everyone's gaze, the first place was slowly revealed.
[Rank 1: Gu Xing, Points 44300, Potential Rating SSS]
As soon as this rank was unveiled, it was like a bomb was dropped on the square.
"Oh my gosh! Gu Xing's points are... forty-four thousand three?!"
"Ten hundred thousand...it's really a five-digit number!"
"SSS-Class potential? This is a human cheating device!"
Amidst the exclamations, Chen Ziming froze as if struck by lightning.
He stared fiercely at those two numbers:
44300 vs 4100!
A difference of tenfold!!
How is this possible!
Chen Ziming's eyes burned red, veins popping as he grabbed a staff member's shoulder:
"Cheating! This must be cheating!"
His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper scraping, "Forty thousand points? What a joke!"
The staff member calmly brushed his hand away, his voice chillingly composed:
"This result was personally verified by the city lord. Are you questioning the city lord's judgment, Master Chen?"
The words poured over Chen Ziming like icy water.
Stumbling backward, his ears buzzed loudly.
The gazes from all around felt like countless sharp knives, stabbing at him.
"Heh... hehehe..."
He suddenly laughed nervously, his fingernails dug deep into his palms.
"I get it! That pauper must have taken the 20 million my father gave him to hire people to fake the points!"
At this moment, Chen Ziming had completely lost his mind, his handsome face distorted almost grotesquely, the veins on his forehead pulsating with his rapid breath.
Thinking of that poor lad whom he once trampled underfoot, now using the Chen family's 20 million handout to humiliate him in return, the rage in his chest almost ignited him entirely.
"Gu Xing! Do you think you can beat me using my family's money?!"
He fiercely grabbed the succubus by the wrist, his grip almost crushing her slender bones.
The succubus winced in pain but dared not struggle, only staggered as he dragged her along.
"Right now! Immediately!"
Chen Ziming's eyes were bloodshot, resembling a frenzied beast.
"I want to hire the top Demon Hunting Team, if ten squads aren't enough, then twenty!"
"In ten days, during the academy assessment, I want that wretch to kneel before me and beg for mercy!"
His voice echoed across the square, drawing countless surprised looks.
But Chen Ziming cared little for his image now, his mind focused on only one thought—
At all costs, he must crush Gu Xing completely.
The succubus was roughly dragged forward by him, yet at the moment of turning, in the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the brilliant name on the square screen—
Gu Xing, SSS-Class!
A thought suddenly emerged in her mind...
Was her choice in the past really right?
...
...