[Vol. 6] Chapter 205: Beyond the Limits of Ridiculous
The thief girl instinctively caught the oversized bag the black-haired girl tossed her and froze for a moment before quickly shaking her head to hide her surprise.
"Boss, I didn’t do much these past few days. I’m already happy just to have enough to eat. There’s no need to split it evenly. Just give me enough to qualify, and the rest should go to you. You might even have a shot at the top ten or even the top three!"
Looking into Le Qiaoqiao’s clear, sincere eyes, Violet smiled faintly and shook her head.
"The top ten or the top hundred both guarantee a spot in the finals. Those rankings don’t mean much to me. I also don’t want to attract too much attention early on. Let’s split the [Crystal Jades]. Compared to me, you’re the one who needs that guaranteed spot more."
Violet had already considered this back on the first day when she proposed working together with Le Qiaoqiao. The reason she brought someone along was so she could share the [Crystal Jades] when needed. Ending up with a ranking that was too high would only bring unnecessary trouble in the long run.
After all, aside from a few exceptions, like those guaranteed spots from elite sects such as the [Shocking God Sect], all remaining competitors in this tournament were gathered here. Ranking in the top two of this qualifying round would make her a hot favorite, which didn’t necessarily mean she’d win the finals but would undoubtedly make her a target.
Sure, it was an honor, but Violet didn’t need accolades to prove herself. She didn’t mind taking first place in the entire [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony], but she didn’t want to expose herself too early and end up swarmed by challengers.
More importantly, from a cautious perspective, she had already revealed her true appearance and strength to those [Seven Heavenly Demon Lords]. The [Ancient Spirit Realm] was rife with hidden dangers, and stepping into the spotlight too soon would be detrimental to her plans.
As for saying that Le Qiaoqiao needed the guaranteed spot more, Violet wasn’t just being polite. Based on her observations, the thief girl’s actual strength was somewhere between Level 30 and Level 40, not particularly remarkable. She was roughly at the mid-to-high tier of the third stage, known as [Peak Ascension]. This was equivalent to the "Earth-level" in the adventurer’s guild power ranking.
At just over 20 years old, Le Qiaoqiao’s abilities were already impressive. But no matter how talented someone was, without enough experience and maturity, even great potential could go to waste.
Moreover, due to her unique cultivation path, lack of experience, and certain personality flaws, Le Qiaoqiao’s direct combat ability was relatively limited. Even now, Murong Yun from before his breakthrough into the [Seeker of Immortality] stage could likely have defeated her with ease.
If it were the swordswoman named “Hongyan”, whom Violet had encountered earlier, going up against Le Qiaoqiao, the odds of victory would be at least 80%.
With such a half-baked level of skill… honestly, making it into the top 100 of the Eastern Kingdom Fixed Region competition would be a steep challenge for her.
As a gesture of gratitude, Violet considered splitting the [Crystal Jades] as a form of payment for Le Qiaoqiao’s help over the past five days, even if it was mostly easy jobs. As Violet had said from the beginning, she wasn’t a heartless boss.
Le Qiaoqiao, while initially hesitant, could see Violet’s sincerity and finally nodded firmly. She stopped resisting and accepted her share.
"Boss, I won’t say anything more! I owe you one. Anytime you need something in the future, just come to me. If I, Le Qiaoqiao, ever refuse, it means my conscience has been eaten by a dog!"
"Really? Anything?"
"Uh… well, as long as it doesn’t go against my principles!"
"Eh…"
……………………….
As Violet had anticipated, even after splitting all the [Crystal Jades] with Le Qiaoqiao, when the priestess submitted the large bag of crystals for the staff to inspect, it still caused a commotion among the surrounding crowd.
The staff member opened the bag, and the surrounding participants erupted into a mix of shock and disbelief.
"Whoa! Did this little girl rob a gem vault or something? There’s gotta be one or two thousand [Crystal Jades] in there!"
"Honestly, I thought her bag was stuffed with dried meat or snacks. But look at the bag the girl behind her is carrying. Could it be the same?"
"No way, right? That would be too much of a coincidence."
"With this many [Crystal Jades], she’s guaranteed a spot in the top 100. A free pass to the finals… sigh, must be nice."
"This kid is terrifying! She’s got incredible potential!"
The chatter was a mix of admiration and envy, but Violet couldn’t help wondering if some oddballs had joined the crowd by the end of it…
Hearing the crowd’s discussions, Violet herself showed no unnecessary emotions or reactions. Instead, she calmly knocked on the desk, subtly reminding the stunned staff to get back to work.
The officials in charge of counting the [Crystal Jades] were clearly experienced in handling high-stakes situations. While they were momentarily dazzled by the sheer brilliance of the pile of [Crystal Jades], they quickly recovered and efficiently began the process of counting and verifying the authenticity of the [Crystal Jades].
To save time and ensure accuracy, they didn’t count the [Crystal Jades] one by one. Instead, they used a light-scanning device. Something completely out of place in this world’s aesthetic, and most likely brought in from Spirit Veil Immortal Island. The device confirmed the [Crystal Jade]'s authenticity, after which they were placed in a container and weighed to calculate the total number.
This system ensured transparency and fairness, eliminating the possibility of fraud. It was clear these procedures had been rigorously tested and accounted for all potential loopholes.
"2,617 [Crystal Jades]. The count has been confirmed," the staff member announced in an official tone, though it carried a hint of respect. "Participant Violet, you are currently ranked sixth in the standings. Since you are guaranteed a spot in the top 100, please proceed to the rest area and wait. Once all data has been collected, we will finalize the overall rankings and distribute the qualification tokens to the top 100 participants."
The staff member continued, "The checkpoint will remain open for another two hours. Please do not leave before the final settlement, as it may complicate the process of issuing your qualification. Thank you for your cooperation."
"Got it," Violet replied casually.
Although she was currently ranked sixth, her position would likely change as more competitors. Especially those who had robbed others of large numbers of [Crystal Jades]. However, there was no doubt her rank would stay within the top 100, guaranteeing her a spot in the finals.
Considering that only around 200 participants nationwide would advance to the finals, those who made it this far were all elites in their own right. Martial masters, renowned figures, or even members of the [Ancient Spirit Realm]’s top 100. Given Violet’s apparent youth, it was no surprise that the ordinary staff treated her with such respect.
Understanding the underlying dynamics at play, Violet gave a polite smile and nodded before signaling to Le Qiaoqiao with a quick glance. She casually headed to the rest area, nodding to the staff there, paying little attention to the next wave of astonished murmurs rising behind her.
As Violet passed by the large crystal board in the center of the resting area. An impressive display that showed real-time rankings using some special technology. She couldn’t resist taking a quick glance. As expected, a few familiar names caught her eye.
Hmm… Hongyan, 721 [Crystal Jades], currently ranked 46th. That spot isn’t exactly secure and could easily be bumped down. Still, with her swordsmanship skills, she’d likely have no trouble making it to the finals, even if she had to fight her way through. As long as she’s okay with dealing with the extra hassle, it shouldn’t be an issue.
Cheng Fengqi, 430 [Crystal Jades], ranked 79th.
Hah, so he really did go off to “punish evil and promote good.” But at this rank, he’s probably going to drop out of the top 100 by the final tally. It seems he didn’t have enough time to gather more [Crystal Jades].
Wait a second… Murong Yun? He somehow collected 1,500 [Crystal Jades] and is ranked 12th, not far below Violet herself?
What’s going on with him? Even if his abilities are solid, this is seriously over the top. There’s no way he got this many [Crystal Jades] in a good way. He definitely stole them just like her.
“Sigh… the world’s going downhill. People just aren’t what they used to be. Even someone who seemed so upright has fallen to temptation…”
Violet internally ranted at lightning speed about the absurdity of the situation, conveniently ignoring the fact that she had done similar things herself. Her gaze shifted upward, skimming past her own name and Le Qiaoqiao’s, now ranked 7th with 2,617 [Crystal Jades], until it stopped at the very top of the board.
The name displayed there was…
[1st Place: Kong – 17,280 Crystal Jades.]
"?????"
Violet froze, her brain momentarily unable to process the ridiculous number.