[Vol. 6] Chapter 203: This is a Robbery!
Time passed in a mix of excitement and routine, and before they knew it, the final day of the wilderness survival competition had arrived.
“Wow, it’s already the last day.”
She took one last look at the makeshift camp that, under Le Qiaoqiao’s handiwork, had begun to take proper shape. Slinging her fully packed, bulging backpack over her shoulder, the black-haired girl prepared to leave the temporary base they had called home for three nights.
It had to be said, despite Le Qiaoqiao’s shortcomings, like being timid, afraid of blood, and having an appetite so enormous that Violet occasionally questioned whether she was even human. Her self-reliance skills were impressive. She clearly had plenty of experience cooking and grilling in the wild, saving Violet a lot of effort.
Except for the occasional fights, Violet found herself with almost nothing to do most of the time.
Seriously, how could a thief be better at building shelters than a civil engineer, and more skilled in housekeeping than a professional maid?
“What’s up, Boss? What’re you looking at?”
Le Qiaoqiao, also weighed down with a bundle of supplies that made her look like she was headed on a long vacation, cheerfully sidled up to Violet. She waved a hand in front of her face, her tone playful.
Though the two had gotten along well over the past few days, and Violet had even told Le Qiaoqiao to just call her by her name, the thief stubbornly stuck with the nickname “Boss.” What had started as a casual joke had become a habit she refused to drop.
After a few failed attempts to correct her, Violet who used to be addressed by all sorts of strange titles, gave up and decided not to fuss over it.
“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about how quickly time flies. Feels like I blinked, and now the competition’s almost over. I wonder how many people will advance to the next round.”
Le Qiaoqiao, who usually covered her face with a black scarf but wasn’t wearing it now, chuckled. She patted her round, full stomach, outlined by her overstuffed pack, looking completely satisfied.
“Who cares about them? As long as we made it through the qualifiers, that’s all that matters! The best part is that I’ve been eating super well these past few days. It’s rare to get the chance to eat and drink like this when I’m out on my own!”
Le Qiaoqiao pouted regretfully as she continued, "It’s such a shame I have other things to take care of. Otherwise, I’d love to keep working for you, Boss. Sigh, it’s so hard to find enough food to eat."
“Heh, you’re something else.”
She didn’t press further about the “other things” Le Qiaoqiao mentioned. Instead, she shook her head with a smile and pointed something out.
“But you’re mistaken about one thing. We haven’t passed the qualifiers yet. Remember, according to the rules, we only officially advance if we make it to the gathering point and hand over our [Crystal Jades] for verification.”
“That’s hardly an issue, right? It’s just a short trip. It’s not like—”
Le Qiaoqiao’s words stopped abruptly. Being quick-witted, she immediately caught on to Violet’s implication.
“Wait… are you saying someone might ambush us on the way?”
“Not just us. Most of the people heading to the gathering point,” Violet clarified with a calm smile.
“Don’t forget, the rules clearly state that the number of [Crystal Jades] a person has will determine their score. The top 100 will receive special rewards. Now tell me, what’s easier. Spending five days running around hunting down competitors with just the basic quota of shards, or conserving energy and ambushing those of us with resource-rich pockets after most of the weaker contestants have already been eliminated?”
She paused and added, “And remember those guys we ran into the first night? Their goal was to loot, not just fight. There’s no way they’d miss a chance like this. I’d bet they’ve already set up ambushes on the routes leading to the gathering point.”
Hearing this, Le Qiaoqiao’s fearfulness started to resurface.
“W-What should we do, Boss? Should we sneak around using small paths?”
Violet couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction.
“You silly girl. There’s no such thing as big roads and small roads in this forest. The quieter and more hidden the path, the more likely you are to run into an ambush.”
“Eh…”
Seeing Le Qiaoqiao’s face grow even paler with fear, Violet decided not to scare her further and offered some reassurance instead.
“Alright, don’t panic. First of all, I’m here with you. And even if those ambushers do pose some threat, they’re not specifically targeting just the two of us. They’re after the majority of contestants.”
“From that perspective, they’re actually the ones at a disadvantage. We have more *allies* than they do.”
Le Qiaoqiao blinked, confused.
“Boss, you’re not thinking of gathering everyone to fight back against the ambushers, are you?”
“Of course not! That’d be way too much trouble and totally unrealistic. But we *can* take advantage of this situation to avoid a lot of unnecessary headaches. Here’s how…”
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[Ancient Spirit Realm Top 100 List]
The four nations of the [Ancient Spirit Realm] are vast and rich in talent. For years, an organization called the [Spirit Veil News Agency] has compiled information about people and events across these nations.
Although the name [Spirit Veil News Agency] might sound like some second-rate tabloid headquarters, it’s actually the most authoritative and professional intelligence organization in the entire [Ancient Spirit Realm]. Its rigorously compiled data is so detailed and reliable that it’s officially recognized by all four nations.
Among its many publications, the [Ancient Spirit Realm Top 100 List] is one of the most popular topics for people across the domain. Published only once a year, each new edition updates the rankings based on significant events from the past year.
This publicly available list always captures the attention of countless powerful individuals, making it a subject of endless fascination and discussion across the [Ancient Spirit Realm].
The rankings on the [Ancient Spirit Realm Top 100 List] may not represent the absolute strength hierarchy of individuals in the [Ancient Spirit Realm], but they are a crucial reference. Anyone who makes it onto the list can be considered one of the top martial artists of their time.
This is an officially recognized honor that cannot be achieved through shortcuts or deceit.
Cheng Fengqi, currently holding the 27th position on the Top 100 List, is a proud disciple of the legendary [Ten Thousand Sword Sovereign], who is ranked third on the list.
Before the age of 30, Cheng Fengqi was an unknown, ordinary martial artist with no reputation to speak of. However, on his 30th birthday, a seemingly trivial encounter involving a roast goose led to an opportunity to become a disciple of the reclusive [Ten Thousand Sword Sovereign]. After three arduous years of training, he reached the first stage of the pinnacle of martial arts.
Later, Cheng Fengqi earned fame with his sword. Deep within [Rising Wind Mountain], he fought two [Seeker of Immortality] level evil spirits alone, slaying one and severely injuring the other. This battle made him a household name, landing him the 52nd spot on the “Top 100 List”.
After that monumental fight, Cheng Fengqi traveled widely, challenging powerful warriors across the land to sharpen his skills. His swordsmanship grew increasingly refined, and his ranking steadily rose. His battle at [Rising Wind Mountain] was so renowned that the mountain itself was renamed in his honor.
Now at 42 years old, Cheng Fengqi is in the prime of his life, both physically and mentally. Brimming with confidence, he entered the [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony], held in the Eastern Kingdom, with the ambition to secure a top position, ascend [Spirit Veil Immortal Island], and refine his swordsmanship to achieve the ultimate longevity and strength.
Until he encountered a certain black-haired, white-robed girl, Cheng Fengqi believed without a doubt that he could achieve his goal.
“Hmm, your strength is around 40, maybe close to 50. Your techniques are straightforward and honorable, and your aura is decent. Alright, I’ll count you in.”
Using only two slender, jade-like fingers, the girl effortlessly caught his full-force sword strike. As Cheng Fengqi stared at her in a mix of shock and disbelief, the black-haired girl casually offered her assessment with a harmless, cheerful smile.
“In short, hand over all your [Crystal Jades]. I want them now~”