Chapter 50: Flying Dragon Tower Ranking

"Ranked 936th?"

DenCan's face twisted in disbelief. The weight of his ranking, posted before the eyes of all the disciples, struck him hard. Back in Yushan City, he had ascended to the third level of Energy Gathering by fifteen—an achievement that set him far above his peers. Even the best in the Martial Hall couldn't hold a candle to him.

After acquiring the inheritance of fifth-grade swordsmanship, he had been hailed as a genius, often dismissing others of his age as insignificant. But that was before he came to the Salmoris Sect, before he met Dustin Li. That defeat had shattered his pride. It wasn't that he was weak—it was that Dustin Li was extraordinary, almost inhuman.

Now, standing at the Flying Dragon Tower, DenCan had hoped for redemption. He had expected a ranking that would reflect his talent, but 936th? He was at the bottom of the list.

A bitter smile spread across his bloodied face as he muttered to himself, "All this time, I thought I was a genius... but it was just arrogance."

At that moment, a familiar voice interrupted his self-pity.

"Don't be so downcast."

DenCan turned to see Dustin Li standing behind him, calm as ever, as if unaffected by the stakes of the day.

"Outer Sect only accepts three disciples every year," Dustin continued, his voice light. "And the minimum requirement for entry is second or third level in Energy Gathering. Even the disciples from last year have had an extra year to cultivate. It's normal for our ranking to be low at the beginning. I heard that many new disciples don't even make it into the top 1000."

Although Dustin had been his rival in the past, the tone in his voice was gentle, lacking any hint of mockery. DenCan's heart warmed slightly. This wasn't the cocky competitor he remembered—it was a fellow disciple offering a word of encouragement.

DenCan took a deep breath. "Thank you, Dustin." His voice was strained, yet sincere. The words resonated deeply with him, pulling him back from the edge of despair. For someone like DenCan, who had never faced real setbacks, this act of kindness was enough to spark something in him—a desire to keep pushing forward.

He looked at Dustin, who was unruffled despite the chaos around them. "So, you're here to participate in the Flying Dragon Tower trial as well?"

Dustin smiled. "I suppose I am. After all, it's a place where you learn what it truly means to be a genius." He chuckled. "Back in Novaridge City, no one was better than me, but now, I see that I have much to learn."

The Outer Sect of Salmoris was home to the best from across the county, and Dustin had quickly realized that the competition here was fiercer than anything he had encountered before.

DenCan paused, studying Dustin for a moment. "How do you think you'll rank?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Dustin shrugged with a playful smile. "I haven't tried yet. Who knows?"

As the two of them chatted, more disciples completed their trials, their rankings falling between 700 and 800. DenCan's expression grew darker with every new name that appeared on the leaderboard. But he wasn't deterred. He knew that with time, his talent would shine through, and he would climb the ranks. One day, he would be among the top two hundred.

"I'm going to go back and train harder," DenCan said with renewed determination. "I hope you, Dustin Li, achieve great things in the Flying Dragon Tower."

With those final words, he turned and left, his back straight and shoulders squared in a mixture of pride and resolve.

Not long after DenCan disappeared into the distance, it was Dustin Li's turn to enter the Flying Dragon Tower.

"Look, it's Dustin Li!"

"The kid who's about to challenge Lestir in the final battle today. The third level of Energy Gathering going up against Lestir's seventh level... That's bold."

"Lestir is ranked 137th. Dustin Li? He won't even make it into the top 150. His third level of Energy Gathering will never cut it."

The whispers echoed around the courtyard, skepticism and derision hanging thick in the air. Among the Outer Sect disciples, where nearly everyone had been a standout talent back in their hometowns, Dustin Li was an unknown—someone who had only recently joined and still had much to prove.

Despite the doubt surrounding him, Dustin walked into the Flying Dragon Tower with quiet confidence, unfazed by the murmurs.

As he entered the first floor, the formation activated, and he found himself standing on a vast, open plain. The air was still, but a low growl soon shattered the silence.

"Roar!"

Fifteen monstrous creatures, each one at the second level of Energy Gathering, emerged from the mist. Their eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty hunger, their fangs sharp enough to tear through steel. These were no ordinary beasts—they were formidable opponents in their own right.

Dustin's eyes narrowed as he sized them up. "Fifteen of them?" he murmured under his breath. "This is going to be difficult."

The monsters rushed forward, attacking from all directions. The first to charge was a massive tiger-like beast with thick, armored skin that seemed impervious to weapons.

Dustin didn't hesitate. With a flash of movement, he brought his fists into play. "Dragon Tiger Fist!" His energy condensed in his body, and with a powerful punch, the tiger beast was sent flying, its body crashing through the air before dissipating into light spots.

But there was no time to rest. As more beasts closed in, Dustin unsheathed his sword, his movements fluid and deadly. The Shadow Sword came alive in his hands, the black blade flashing like a streak of lightning. He executed the first form of the Aurora Sword Art—Flash Sword.

In a flurry of strikes, the sword sliced through the air, cleaving two of the monsters cleanly in half. The speed was so great that their bodies didn't even have time to hit the ground before they disappeared into light.

The other monsters lunged at him, but Dustin's movements were too fast to track. He was a blur, shifting from one position to the next, his sword a flashing arc of death.

In just a few moments, all fifteen monsters had been slain, their bodies vanishing into the air as if they had never existed.

The prairie setting faded, and Dustin stood in the stark, stone-walled confines of the Flying Dragon Tower once more. Sheathing his sword, he ascended the stairs to the second floor.

The second floor's challenge was different. As soon as the formation activated, fifteen figures in white appeared. Their faces were blurred, and they carried a mix of weapons or fought empty-handed. These were no mere monsters—they were human-like opponents, each as strong as a fifth-level Energy Gathering warrior.

Before Dustin could even react, one of the figures attacked with a sword. Dustin responded instantly, the shadow sword flashing and severing the figure's head before it could even strike.

Then, the battle truly began. Figures attacked from all sides, but with his mastery of movement and swordplay, Dustin became a whirlwind of afterimages. With each flick of his sword, another figure fell, their bodies dissolving into light.

The fight was grueling. While his speed and technique were unmatched, the constant barrage of attacks drained his energy. His clothes were torn, his body bruised and bloodied. By the time the last of the fifth-level warriors fell, Dustin was exhausted, his infuriating energy nearly depleted.

But there was no time to rest. The third floor awaited him, and he knew the challenges would only grow more difficult.

As he stepped onto the third floor, the scene shifted to a frozen, snow-covered landscape. The air was bitterly cold, and every step he took was met with a crunching sound beneath his feet.

Fifteen massive Snow Demon Wolves appeared before him, their eyes burning with hunger. Each one was as powerful as a seventh-level Energy Gathering warrior.

Dustin drew his sword with a fierce determination. The battle was about to begin.