I Only Know How to Bully Noobs

Chapter 146: Absolute Beauty Ranking

Chen Ming entered the main hall and found it unexpectedly spacious, roughly several thousand square meters, and perfectly square.

Inside the hall stood nine massive columns that would take several people to encircle. At the center was a staircase leading to the upper level.

The people who entered earlier had scattered around, standing before the columns and examining something. When he came in, they merely cast him a glance and paid no further attention.

“Congratulations, young master.”

An old man with a white beard dressed in gray stood by the main entrance and handed him a wooden token. “Five days from now, bring this token to participate in the martial assessment.”

Chen Ming accepted it respectfully. “Thank you, senior.”

Just a token? They didn’t even ask for a name. Aren’t they worried I might give the token to someone else?

He shook his head inwardly. The organization of this event was really too sloppy.

The gray-clad elder added, “Young master, please do not leave yet. Remain until the assessment ends. You may tour the hall freely.”

“Yes.”

Just as Chen Ming was about to move away, he suddenly remembered something and asked, “Can I go to the second floor?”

A hint of amusement flashed in the elder’s eyes. “You can, if you’re able to ascend.”

Understood.

Chen Ming gave a slight bow and walked toward the column with the fewest people. Everyone was gathered around the columns—there must be something on them.

“So there are martial techniques carved on these.”

He glanced at one. A sword technique was inscribed upon it, appearing quite profound—at least a second-tier sword technique.

This World’s Number One Tower was rather generous, carving such techniques on the columns for everyone to observe. This could be considered a reward for passing a round.

After all, for the vast majority of lower-level martial artists, a technique like this was enough for them to fight tooth and nail.

Those who managed to get in were all aristocratic youths, and even they were standing before the columns memorizing the martial techniques, which spoke volumes of their value.

Chen Ming walked a full circle and observed each of the nine columns. The techniques carved on each one were different—saber techniques, staff techniques, spear techniques...

Among them, the column with a movement technique had the most people gathered.

Chen Ming gave it a glance and immediately lost interest.

His 《Vermilion Bird Sword Technique》 had already reached mastery, and he had a movement technique as well. For now, there was no need to learn another martial art.

To him, the improvement of sword techniques came from point-adding. All that talk about drawing parallels and integrating the strengths of many schools was just for show.

He wouldn’t waste time on that.

...

Aside from the columns, there was writing on the walls.

Chen Ming went over to take a look. It was the ranking lists released by World’s Number One Tower. There were rankings from the current session, the previous session, and the one before that...

After a while, he lost interest and finally looked toward the staircase leading to the second floor in the center.

At this moment, another person also seemed to take an interest in the staircase and walked up to it.

Chen Ming vaguely recalled hearing people outside mention this person—his surname seemed to be Tang. Googlᴇ search novel⦿fire.net

This Tang fellow was quite bold and simply stepped onto the staircase.

Bang!

Before his foot even touched the stair, he was bounced off and sent flying, landing flat on his back.

The commotion drew many glances. Those eyes clearly scolded, “Idiot.”

Seeing his miserable state, Chen Ming thought to himself that it was fortunate he hadn’t acted impulsively.

Forget it, better to look at the previous rankings.

Like the Divine Weapon Ranking, Secret Treasure Ranking, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures Ranking, and so on—not only was there text, but also illustrations. The book he bought didn’t have pictures.

Looking at these could help pass the time.

After making a round, Chen Ming noticed more and more people inside the main hall. By rough estimate, there were already more than twenty people. He was a bit surprised—this was just Jiangzhou, yet there were so many young Fifth Grades.

Including the seeded contestants within Jiangzhou City, there would be thirty to forty in total.

Across the entire Great Jin Dynasty, how many would that be?

There were still far too many geniuses in this world.

Unknowingly, more than an hour had already passed.

Once the number of people in the main hall reached thirty, there was no new arrival for a long time.

Chen Ming felt that those qualified to contend for the Azure Cloud Ranking were already present—along with the seeded contestants. Everyone who should come had almost arrived.

There were likely over forty people, which was quite impressive.

Thinking this, Chen Ming walked toward the Absolute Beauty Ranking area. Listed were the beauties of past generations, but unfortunately, there were no photos, making it hard to see just how stunning those ranked beauties truly were.

In a world where martial arts existed, the quality of beauties must surely surpass that of Earth.

He walked along, reading the names above, when he suddenly caught sight of a familiar name on one of the rankings.

Su Zhi Ning?

Chen Ming thought he was seeing things. He took another look—and it really was Su Zhi Ning.

“A coincidence of identical name and surname?”

He thought inwardly, then looked at the description that followed: “The twenty-sixth generation disciple of Heaven's Path Alliance, twenty years old. Autumn water as her eyes, jade as her bones, like a goddess descending to the mortal world.”

“……”

Chen Ming was bewildered. The ranking book he had bought didn’t contain Su Zhi Ning’s name.

Could it be he bought a fake list?

He continued reading. None of the names matched the ones in his book.

After a while, he finally figured it out.

Turns out, the book he bought was outdated—it was the list from the previous session.

Good grief.

“No wonder she always wears a veil, and her master constantly instills the idea of guarding against men. So this is the reason.”

Although Chen Ming hadn’t seen her face, he had figured she must be very pretty.

But to think she was so beautiful that she actually made it onto the Absolute Beauty Ranking—and ranked fifth.

That meant her looks were among the top five in the entire Great Jin Dynasty.

Just how beautiful was she?

Chen Ming’s curiosity was piqued. He resolved to find a chance to see her face someday.

“You also admire beauties, brother?”

Suddenly, a pleasant voice sounded behind him.

Chen Ming turned around and saw a handsome young man. He looked overly young, about sixteen or seventeen.

Chen Ming was slightly surprised—already a Fifth Grade at such a young age? How monstrous.

Looking more carefully—ah, it turned out to be a girl. Her slender frame and youthful appearance had misled him into thinking she was a boy.

Since she was a girl, it was hard to determine her actual age. She could be a teenager—or in her twenties.

In this era, daughters of well-off families usually revealed their age through attire and makeup.

But in male clothing, that became difficult to judge.

Chen Ming gave a slight nod as a response.

The girl must have just entered. She was quite forward and added, “Brother, did you know there’s a peerless beauty on the Absolute Beauty Ranking right here in Jiangzhou City?”

Of course I know. She’s with me all the time.

Chen Ming thought, but quickly realized the girl wasn’t referring to Su Zhi Ning. He casually replied, “Oh?”

“You don’t believe me, brother?”

Seeing his indifferent reaction, the girl pointed to the ranking. “It’s the one ranked third—Yu Haitang. She’s currently in Jiangzhou City.”

Before Chen Ming could respond, a loud bang echoed. He turned to see another fool attempting to ascend the second floor, only to be bounced back and lying on the ground, unable to get up.

“Overestimating oneself,” the girl sneered.

Chen Ming was still curious about the second floor and asked, “Has anyone ever ascended it?”

“Of course. Five years ago, Ji Baichuan once made it up there. Rumor has it he gained tremendous benefits.”

“What’s on the second floor?”

“Some say there are higher-level martial arts. Others claim it holds heavenly materials, divine weapons, and rare treasures. What exactly is there, only those who’ve been up can say.”

“Thank you, young lady, for enlightening me.”

Chen Ming offered a polite word of thanks.

The girl smiled and said, “Brother Chen, there’s no need to be so courteous. In fact, I’m quite happy to see you here.”

Chen Ming looked at her somewhat strangely. “We’ve met before?”

“I’ve seen you. I didn’t show myself at the time, I was in the carriage,” the girl replied, offering a deep bow. “A few days ago, my elder brother was quite disrespectful to you. I apologize on his behalf.”

Chen Ming guessed her identity and found it even more curious. “Jiang Shihua is your brother?”

“That’s right.”

This pair of siblings was certainly interesting—one arrogant and rude, eyes above the sky; the other warm and courteous, well-mannered and considerate.

He asked, “Are you also vying for the Azure Cloud Ranking?”

Jiang Yingxue said, “My brother’s participating—why shouldn’t I be allowed to?”

“Does your brother know?”

“He’ll find out when the time comes.”

So she really had come without informing her family. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have needed to dress as a man.

The Great Jin Dynasty was quite liberal, and there weren’t many restrictions on women practicing martial arts. Within the main hall, there were already seven or eight women—roughly one-fifth of the total.

Chen Ming said, “If both you and your brother can make it onto the Azure Cloud Ranking, it would truly be a tale to remember.”

Jiang Yingxue frowned slightly and said, “No need to flatter me. With my current strength, it’s impossible to make it onto the Azure Cloud Ranking. Maybe in five years.”

From the sound of it, she wasn’t even twenty yet.

No wonder the Jiang Family was one of the three great aristocratic families of Jiangzhou—and the oldest among them. They truly produced outstanding talents.

Jiang Shihua was a seeded contestant, and his younger sister had already reached Fifth Grade before turning twenty—an even more astonishing talent.

At that moment, Jiang Yingxue added, “Brother Chen, truth is, I’ve known about you for quite some time. Sister Yan mentioned you in her letters. I heard that you reached Fifth Grade in just four years, starting from an ordinary person—that’s truly amazing.”

Her sparkling eyes seemed to glow with light.

From her, Chen Ming sensed a familiar vibe—an unmistakable air of fake sweetness.

That tone of admiration, the shy and affectionate gaze—it was all too familiar.

He replied blandly, “You flatter me.”