The subtle game between Fang Li and Dirk remained unknown to anyone.
For the residents of Asterisk, the true focus of attention lay in the recent School Festival, the upcoming Festa, and the rumors surrounding the world's top Diva. These were the headlines that captivated the city.
In comparison, the quiet maneuvering between Fang Li and Dirk was nothing more than a minor episode, known only to the two of them. Even if this episode concealed secrets far more shocking than the Festa itself, it remained a shadowed affair, playing out behind the scenes.
Afterward, Fang Li returned to Jie Long as if nothing had happened, his demeanor unchanged, showing no trace of the bloodshed he had just been involved in. Naturally, the moment he stepped back into Jie Long, Zhao Hufeng was quick to confront him.
"You... you said you weren't close to Miss Sylvia! So why were you meeting her at Queenvail Girls' Academy?!" Zhao Hufeng's voice trembled, his expression on the verge of tears as he gripped Fang Li's shoulders tightly, his fingers digging in so hard that Fang Li couldn't help but shudder.
After much back-and-forth, Fang Li managed to brush off the interrogation, eventually placating Zhao Hufeng with an autographed photo of Sylvia. Reluctantly, Zhao Hufeng let go, though he kept glancing back as he walked away, clearly not entirely satisfied.
However, it wasn't long before Fang Li and Zhao Hufeng crossed paths again— this time in the audience chamber.
The reason? A summons from Fan Xinglou. Along with Fang Li, Wu Xiaofei, Cecily, Zhao Hufeng, Li Shenyun, and Li Shenhua were all called to the chamber. The topic of discussion? The upcoming Gryph Festa.
"The School Festival has passed, and the Gryph Festa is only three weeks away. Registrations are nearly closed, so I must finalize the team," Fan Xinglou declared, seated on her elevated throne-like chair.
Her gaze settled on Fang Li as she spoke with a hint of amusement. "Let me confirm this once more, boy. Are you truly not planning to participate in the Gryph Festa?"
As Fan Xinglou spoke, the eyes of the other apprentices turned to Fang Li. Yet, Fang Li didn't meet their gazes, answering directly, "No, I'll stick to the original plan. Let the senior brothers and sisters take part."
Fang Li's response elicited mixed reactions. Cecily and Zhao Hufeng were visibly disappointed, while Li Shenyun and Li Shenhua seemed relieved. This dynamic made it clear who among them held closer ties to Fang Li and who did not. Only Wu Xiaofei remained silent, standing to the side without offering any opinion.
In the midst of this, Fang Li simply smiled and added, "After all, I don't have a ranking. It's better to leave the spotlight to those who do."
His words caused the group's expressions to shift subtly, particularly Zhao Hufeng's, who couldn't help but interject, "You don't have a ranking only because you're not interested. On both Óðrerir and Hexa Pantheon, your rankings are far from low."
In Asterisk, student rankings were determined through ranking battles held by each academy, creating a hierarchy that distinguished the strength of its students. However, these rankings were limited to individual academies, with no unified system across the six major schools.
For instance, Seidoukan Academy's top-ranked student was Toudou Kirin, while Queenvail Girls' Academy's top-ranked student was Sylvia. Both were undisputed champions within their respective academies, but how would they fare against each other?
To address this, unofficial ranking websites have emerged since the founding of Asterisk, offering cross-academy comparisons of outstanding students. Among these, two stood out as the most reputable and widely recognized: Óðrerir and Hexa Pantheon.
Óðrerir, managed by an individual, had been active since the early days of Asterisk. Its rankings were considered highly accurate, often referenced even by casinos during Festa to determine betting odds.
Hexa Pantheon, on the other hand, was a newer site that employed a unique evaluation system open to public participation, resembling a popularity contest. Despite its different approach, it rivaled Óðrerir in terms of traffic and influence.
Though Fang Li had never participated in a ranking battle and thus held no official rank within Jie Long, his status as one of the champions of the Phoenix Festa made it clear that earning a ranking would be trivial for him. As a result, both Óðrerir and Hexa Pantheon had assigned him notable positions.
Zhao Hufeng, who seemed to have browsed these sites, explained, "Junior Brother, you're currently ranked seventh on Óðrerir and eighteenth on Hexa Pantheon. Those are no small feats."
These rankings were impressive, considering they encompassed all students from the Six Great Academies, including powerhouses like Banyuu Tenra and the infamous "Ereshkigal".
For Fang Li to break into the top ten on Óðrerir and rank eighteenth on Hexa Pantheon— a site where even graduated students could maintain high positions due to popularity— was a testament to his abilities.
Of course, these rankings were based on his performance during the Phoenix Festa. If he were to compete now, his position would undoubtedly rise even further.
Zhao Hufeng added in a lower voice, "By the way, the current top-ranked student on both lists is the one from Rewolf Black Institute."
There was no need to guess who he was referring to— the Ereshkigal. Having achieved back-to-back victories in the King's Festa and on the cusp of a third, her dominance was unquestionable.
As for Fan Xinglou, her age had kept her from participating in Festa events, and though many knew of her monstrous strength, her lack of public appearances had somewhat affected her rankings.
On Hexa Pantheon, where popularity played a significant role, Sylvia even ranked above Fan Xinglou, highlighting the importance of public perception.
Incidentally, on Óðrerir, Sylvia held the second-place position, just behind the Ereshkigal.
"Rankings, huh?" Fan Xinglou mused, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. Then, she suddenly smiled. "In that case, why not settle this with a ranking battle?"
(End Of This Chapter)
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