Chapter 150: Masked Candidate (Part-7)
"You already know my strength," Ryan said as he removed the mask with a smile. "Five wins, of course."
There was no longer any need for concealment. With matchmaking finished, the mask served no purpose.
"That's not what I meant," Wang Bi'er replied, smiling as well. "I know you'd win. I'm asking about the opponents you met. In the positioning battles, the stronger the opponents, the higher the final score and ranking."
"The opponents?" Ryan paused briefly, then answered. "They were fine. The last one was actually a two-star Upper Exalt. That surprised me. I didn't expect to meet Upper Exalt–level disciples in the Outer House. I thought that kind of strength would only exist in the Inner House."
Wang Zongyao, after all, was already an Inner House figure with roughly one-star Upper Exalt strength. Naturally, Ryan had assumed that Upper Exalts would be recruited directly into the Inner House.
"That's normal," Wang Bi'er explained with a smile. "Brother Li, the top two hundred on the Outer House rankings are all at the Upper Exalt level. They're the most outstanding geniuses of Western Mansion's Outer House. The only reason they haven't entered the Inner House yet is because the Inner House examination hasn't started."
"So that's how it is," Ryan said, suddenly enlightened. Then he thought of something and asked, "What if someone fails the Inner House examination?"
"In theory, they stay in the Outer House," Wang Bi'er replied. "But there are exceptions. If someone's talent is truly outstanding, they can be specially recruited into the Inner House even if they fail. Of course, their resources won't be as good as those who officially pass."
She paused, then smiled brightly. "As for someone like Brother Li, especially within the top hundred, special recruitment is guaranteed. And with your talent, the Inner House would never dare shortchange you on resources."
"I see." Ryan nodded. Without Wang Bi'er's explanations, he really would have been lost. Western Mansion's structure was far more intricate than he had imagined.
Wang Bi'er clapped her hands lightly. "Alright, enough talking. Brother Li, quickly check your final positioning score. We've all been waiting for this."
"Yes, Brother Wei!" Li Wujie chimed in. "I'm dying of curiosity."
Li Shu added confidently, "Honestly, I don't even need to look. Brother Li's score must be terrifying. Who knows, maybe you're already first in the Outer House."
Li Baijie and Mu Xianling also leaned in, eyes shining with anticipation.
After all, when Ryan was fighting, he had been sent elsewhere. They had no idea what kind of results he had achieved.
"Alright." Ryan nodded and turned his gaze to the light curtain inside the gas mask.
*
Name: Temporary Number 59416
Level: Unknown
Wins: 5
Losses: 0
Rating: 15,659 points (temporary)
Ranking: 2
Positioning Sessions: (5 / ?)
Due to failure to detect level and strength, the score remains temporary. Positioning sessions are classified as infinite. Positioning will not end until level and strength can be determined.
*
After reading the panel, Ryan's first reaction was pure surprise.
Just five matches and second place already.
A score of 15,659.
If he remembered correctly, the disciple ranked first had 15,660 points.
Just one more point.
One more match.
And he would be first.
Then his eyes fell on the final line, and his surprise deepened.
Even after five matches, the score was still considered temporary.
"Unable to determine level and strength…" Ryan murmured.
Thinking about it, it made sense.
In those five matches, aside from briefly using the Phaseless Shadow Step in the last one, he had relied almost entirely on basic movement and brute force. He hadn't truly revealed his cultivation or power.
Without showing real strength, how could the Eight Palace Battle Hall accurately assess him?
So the system simply couldn't lock in his level.
"How is it?" Wang Bi'er asked, unable to hide her nervous excitement.
"15,659 points," Ryan replied honestly. "Ranked second. The system says my level couldn't be determined, so the score is still temporary. My positioning sessions have become infinite and won't end until my strength is fully assessed."
"No level detected… infinite positioning?" Wang Bi'er froze, then looked at him in disbelief. "Brother Li, did you… barely use any moves at all?"
"Yes," Ryan said after a brief thought. "I guess I really didn't."
"Monster…" Wang Bi'er muttered under her breath.
Her suspicion had been confirmed.
Ryan had completed five positioning matches, gone undefeated, and climbed to second place in the Outer House rankings… without truly showing his strength.
Even without taking first place, the result alone was already terrifying.
"What did you say?" Ryan asked, tilting his head when he caught Wang Bi'er muttering under her breath.
"Ah—nothing!" Wang Bi'er stuck out her tongue lightly and laughed. "I just meant that Brother Li is really, really powerful."
"Did you only realize that now?" Ryan smiled shamelessly. "I thought you knew long ago how amazing I am."
"Brother Wei, you're only one point away from first place," Li Wujie said excitedly. "Do you want to play one more match?"
If Ryan, before even entering Western Mansion, could take first place on the Outer House leaderboard, it would be an incomparably glorious matter for the Li Clan. Second place was already dazzling, but first place carried an entirely different weight.
"No need," Ryan waved his hand casually. "I only came to experience it. Besides, since we're already here, you should all give it a try yourselves."
"Alright! Then I'll go first!" Li Wujie replied eagerly.
After receiving his temporary number, Li Wujie rushed into the gas mask, excitement written all over his face. Even if Ryan hadn't suggested it, he would have wanted to try anyway.
Li Shu, Li Baijie, and Mu Xianling also stood to the side, clearly tempted and itching to give it a go.
In the end, everyone except Wang Bi'er entered the Eighth Palace Battle Hall and experienced it personally.
Unsurprisingly, due to the large gap in strength between them and the Western Mansion disciples, the results were not ideal. Li Wujie, Li Shu, Li Baijie, and Mu Xianling all completed five matches and lost all five.
However, none of them felt discouraged. They had come in with realistic expectations, fully aware of their own limits. For them, this was an experience, a chance to broaden their horizons and gain combat insight.
After all, someone like Ryan, who entered the Eighth Palace Battle Hall for the first time and immediately ranked second in the Outer House, simply couldn't be measured by normal standards.
That was the feat of a monster.
They were ordinary people, and they had no intention of comparing themselves to Ryan.
Once everyone had finished their matches, the visit to the Palace of Fighting was considered complete. Ryan led the group out of the Eighth Palace Battle Hall.
The moment they stepped back into the passage, they were stunned.
Before Ryan had entered earlier, this corridor had been relatively quiet, with only a few people passing by. Now, it was completely packed.
People filled the passage from end to end, flowing in and out nonstop. The corridor, once spacious, now felt cramped. Just squeezing through took Ryan and the others quite some effort.
Glancing toward the Observation Hall made things even clearer. The hall was overflowing. The hundred-meter-wide space was packed tight with Western Mansion disciples and candidates, all crowding around the light curtain, arguing and discussing loudly. The noise echoed endlessly, forming a constant buzzing roar.
Even so, more people were still forcing their way inside.
And that wasn't even the end of it.
When Ryan and the others finally stepped out of the passage and into the main hall of the Palace of Fighting, they were completely shocked.
The number of people here far exceeded those in the passage. Thousands of figures filled the vast hall, some discussing heatedly, some arguing, others speculating in hushed voices. Among them were Outer House disciples from various palaces, newly arrived candidates, and even high-ranking elders.
There were also a few elders whose status was clearly extraordinary, their gazes sweeping across the crowd as if searching for someone.
The entire Palace of Fighting was in utter chaos.
Yet despite the noise and confusion, every conversation revolved around a single topic.
A candidate with the temporary number 59416 had risen to second place on the Outer House leaderboard.
The shockwave from this news was enormous.
Some people speculated about the identity of this mysterious candidate. Others argued fiercely over whether temporary number 59416 was stronger, or whether Chu Mingyue, the current first place, still reigned supreme since their scores differed by only one point. Many were openly scanning the crowd, nervously trying to find the candidate himself.
"Brother Li," Wang Bi'er whispered beside him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "It looks like you've caused quite a storm."
Ryan rubbed his nose helplessly. "I knew my results would attract attention, but I really didn't expect Western Mansion to react this strongly. This is completely beyond what I imagined."
"They don't know that temporary number 59416 is you anyway," Wang Bi'er laughed softly. "So just let them be."
Ryan nodded with a smile. "True enough. Well, there's nothing left to do here. Should we head back?"
Everyone agreed. Just as they were about to push their way through the crowd, a familiar figure appeared in front of them.
"It's you?" Fang Qingyang stopped when he saw Ryan. "You've already experienced the Eighth Palace Battle Hall?"