Chapter 98: Level Ranking, A Lesson in Strategy

**Chapter 98: Level Ranking, A Lesson in Strategy**

As players eagerly turned in their quests, the ranking list underwent a monumental shift. Only the top 100 players held a place on this coveted leaderboard, known to the players as the "Top 100 List."

In the scramble for positions, the once-dominant figures—Ice Tea, Cangshan Serenity, and Emperor Blood Slaying Heaven—found themselves knocked from the top and now ranking below 80. The players who had joined Su Yu in the recent battle claimed the leaderboard instead, pushing previous contenders out of sight.

Unsurprisingly, Su Yu sat at the top of the list, securely in first place at level 21 with 6% experience gained. Second place remained occupied by Thousand Cups Never Drunk, though he trailed far behind at level 11 with 23% experience.

From third place onward, the leaderboard saw new faces. Herdsman in the Cloud claimed the third position, also at level 11 but with 5% experience, followed closely by Snow Leopard in fourth, nearly reaching level 11 with 99% experience. The gap between Su Yu and second place had widened to an extraordinary ten levels, so far ahead that many had given up any thought of surpassing him.

Around Su Yu, a growing crowd of players buzzed with excitement over the leaderboard shift, celebrating their own new rankings.

"Old Zhang, I finally made it! I'm ranked 86th!" a player cheered.

"Congrats! I was so close to the top 100 myself—just 3% experience shy of it."

"Those who missed the battle really missed out!" another player remarked. "Take Heaven Slaying Sword, for instance. They stayed in the novice village, blocking the entrance and collecting tolls. Now look—he's out of the top 100!"

Laughter rippled through the crowd, with many players voicing their approval. Although Heaven Slaying Sword had frequently denied claims of "village gate tolls" on the forums, his reputation had suffered. In the eyes of many, seeing him fall from the top rankings was cause for celebration.

Meanwhile, others were stunned by Su Yu's level.

"Am I seeing this right? Wasn't Nemesis just level 19? How is he already level 21?"

"No way, he really is level 21!"

"I thought I was doing well with 6,600 experience, and yet Nemesis here jumps up two levels like it's nothing!"

Curious, one of the players approached Su Yu and asked, "Nemesis, do you get different experience points than the rest of us?"

With a slight smile, Su Yu replied, "Of course it's different. Think of it like the old dynasties. When a drought struck and the harvest failed, the court would distribute relief funds. Now, who do you think received more—the victims or the officials responsible for disaster relief?"

The players couldn't help but laugh. Su Yu's analogy hit home—his level and progress were on a completely different scale, almost untouchable for the average player.

Snow Leopard, who stood nearby, gazed at the leaderboard with mixed emotions. For the first time, his name appeared in the top five, yet Su Yu's imposing "Level 21" cast a shadow over his achievement. In that moment, Snow Leopard realized just how vast the gap between them truly was.

But Su Yu's mention of "disaster relief" sparked an idea in Snow Leopard's mind. "Nemesis, is there a way for us to become 'disaster relief officials' too? Could you share your strategy with us? Name your price!"

Su Yu chuckled, giving it a moment's thought. "Actually, there's no need for payment. I'll share the information with everyone—no charge."

Su Yu's choice to share his knowledge freely wasn't just a gesture of goodwill. Gaining the trust of NPCs was no easy feat, especially those with high-level quests. Su Yu's own success stemmed from a unique combination of being reborn with insider knowledge and earning the rank of "Senior Scholar," an achievement with a challenging entry threshold. Most players, no matter how skilled, wouldn't reach such status for at least five or six months.

By offering his advice without charge, Su Yu would earn the goodwill of those around him. And goodwill, in the long run, could be far more valuable than a quick reward.

Players crowded closer, eager to hear his words, their faces lit with anticipation. They were about to receive valuable insight from the top player in the game—a rare opportunity.

"Actually, it all started when I joined the [Scholars Temple]," Su Yu began, recounting his journey. He briefly explained how he gained entry into the temple, obtained the [Senior Scholar Badge], won the trust of the princess, and ultimately secured permission to assign tasks on her behalf.

As for his seamless acquisition of the [Senior Scholar Badge], Su Yu credited it to pure luck. "In the library of Novice Village, I studied a set of 30 questions, and it just so happened that those same questions appeared in the temple's test. Lucky coincidence."

The players exchanged glances, mulling over Su Yu's words.

"So, by gaining an NPC's trust, you can issue quests on their behalf," mused Red-Eyed Black Dragon.

Snow Leopard, however, frowned thoughtfully. "But even if we gain their trust, only 1% of the experience rewards goes to us as quest-givers. That seems too low."

"Unless you can assign quests to thousands of players like Nemesis, the income would barely be worthwhile," added Herdsman in the Cloud with a sigh.

"True. And considering that only high-ranking NPCs like Queen Elijie could issue such quests, most of us won't be able to reach that level anytime soon," said another player.

The crowd fell into silence, but Su Yu, sensing their disappointment, suddenly raised a new point. "That said, I have a hunch there might be another battle event on the way back to Gorse City. If you don't mind the reward percentages, you're welcome to join."

Excitement reignited among the players.

"Mind? Not at all!"

"I'm in!"

"When's the battle happening? I'll set an alarm so I don't miss it."

Su Yu shook his head. "I'm not certain there will be another battle, and I don't know the timing if there is. But if it happens, I'll post an update on the forum."

"Perfect, I'll follow you on the forum!"

"Same here—forum mode set every ten minutes."

"Seems like it might happen near Maple Leaf City. Let's head there and keep an eye out for quests while we wait."

"Sounds like a plan. Let's move to Maple Leaf City!"

"Thank you, Boss Nemesis!"

"The Boss will always be legendary!"

(End of chapter)