"Let me explain everything—"
Deran said it like he was about to deliver ancient wisdom from the top of a sacred mountain.
Then he tripped over his own boot and nearly headbutted the floor.
Shen Hao blinked. "That was majestic."
Deran stood back up and cleared his throat. "Anyway! There are seven hunter squads in this city. Ranked from strongest to 'please-don't-assign-them-anything-dangerous'."
He pointed to the floor dramatically. "And we… are Squad Seven."
Shen Hao's eye twitched. "So we're the don't-let-them-near-sharp-objects squad."
Deran clapped his hands. "We are the squad of humble beginnings! The beautiful underdogs!"
"We're the sock under the bed," Zerak said, sipping tea like a retired war general.
"Thank you for that image," Shen Hao muttered.
Deran raised a hand like a general. "Now! Here's how the ranking works. If the captain of a squad defeats the captain above them in an official duel, their teams switch ranks."
Shen Hao's eyes widened. "Wait… just like that?"
"Just like that," Deran said with a proud nod. "Simple, fast, and full of drama."
Shen Hao turned to Auren, who stood silently like a walking thundercloud with good manners.
"So… if you beat Captain Auren, we become Squad Six?"
Deran nodded. "Exactly."
Shen Hao looked at Auren. "You've been very quiet, Captain Auren."
Auren smiled gently. "I prefer to let others talk before I crush their hopes."
Shen Hao took a step back. "Noted."
Deran rubbed his hands together. "Now imagine this: Squad Four defeats Squad Two—"
"Hold up," Shen Hao interrupted. "They just skip over Squad Three?"
"YES!" Deran shouted like this was the best thing ever. "They jump straight to that spot. And the defeated squad… gets dropped."
Shen Hao blinked. "How far down?"
Deran leaned in, grinning. "All the way to Squad Seven."
Shen Hao's face froze like someone had thrown ice Qi on his soul. "That's not a fall. That's… spiritual gravity betrayal!"
Zerak nodded. "Seen it happen. One day you're a dragon-slayer, next day you're fetching water for a beginner who trips on grass."
Deran threw his arm around Shen Hao's shoulder. "And when that happens? Every squad below the loser rises up one spot. Even us."
Shen Hao blinked. "So we just get promoted by existing?"
"Exactly!" Deran shouted.
"I love this system."
"Me too."
Shen Hao looked at Captain Auren, eyes squinting. "So... how strong are you, really?"
Auren smiled again, the kind of calm smile you see before natural disasters.
"I'm currently at Demi-Conqueror Realm, Level 4."
Shen Hao froze. "..."
His soul left his body, screamed into the spiritual void, and came back.
"WHAT?!"
Auren calmly folded his arms.
"I thought you were just a strong guy with good hair! You're a monster wrapped in a polite bowtie!"
Zerak sipped tea. "He crushed a spirit beast once by sighing too hard."
Shen Hao slowly turned to Deran. "And you…?"
"I'm at Demi-Conqueror Realm, Level 3," Deran said proudly.
Shen Hao collapsed into a chair that wasn't even there.
"You—YOU BROKE THROUGH?! While I was in the egg?!"
Deran beamed. "You're not the only one who trains, rookie!"
"I was sealed away doing life-changing cultivation! You were out here leveling up like it was a game!"
"Hard work and good snacks," Deran said, flexing.
Auren nodded. "He did improve. Slightly. Still predictable, though."
"I'M UNPREDICTABLE!" Deran shouted.
"You said that last time before getting kicked into a wall," Auren replied.
Shen Hao laughed so hard he nearly dropped his spiritual balance.
"Okay," he said. "Let's review. If you reach Level 4, you challenge Captain Auren…"
Deran nodded.
"If you win, we rise to Squad Six?"
Deran nodded again.
"And if you lose again—?"
"We stay at the bottom."
Shen Hao paused. "What happens if you win, then lose, then win, then lose again?"
Zerak answered before anyone else. "That's called Tuesday."
Shen hao exhaled through his nose. "Tuesday sounds like it needs therapy."
"Thursday's worse," Auren added calmly. "Last week, someone summoned a spiritual jellyfish. It turned into a fog monster."
Deran nodded. "We named it Gary. Then we un-named it when it ate the wall."
Shen Hao rolled his eyes. "I leave for one year and this city turns into a storybook written by insane cultivators."
Zerak sipped from his oversized tea cup. "Not insane. Just spiritually expressive."
Deran leaned forward suddenly. "Anyway—Shen. There's something you should probably know."
Shen Hao raised an eyebrow. "Please tell me it doesn't involve more monster seafood."
"No. It's about Captain Rui."
"Who?"
"Leader of Squad One," Deran said, dropping his voice slightly. "And the strongest hunter in the city."
Shen Hao leaned back. "If he's that strong, why haven't I heard his name before?"
"Because when he walks into a room," Auren said, "the room decides not to speak."
Zerak added, "His silence is louder than our entire defense budget."
Deran smirked. "He's at Conqueror Realm, Level 3."
Shen Hao blinked once.
Then twice.
Then slowly turned his head. "…Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"Conqueror Realm. Level. THREE?!"
Auren nodded like he was announcing the weather. "Yes."
"Isn't that the level where you sneeze and it counts as a forbidden technique?!"
Zerak muttered, "That's Level 4. He's just one step away."
Shen Hao stared at them. "So this Captain Rui could crush mountains and sip tea at the same time."
"He has," Deran said. "That's how he broke his last cup."
Auren added, "He's also the City Admin's oldest friend. And his direct rival."
Shen Hao froze.
"…You're telling me there's another version of the Admin out there. With no paperwork, no robes, and probably even worse aim?"
"Pretty much," Deran said. "He doesn't even need to hit you. You just feel guilty and fall over."
Shen Hao took a breath. "I am suddenly very okay being in Squad Seven."
Zerak tapped his desk. "Too bad. The Admin wants to see you."
A glowing letter floated down like a falling leaf and smacked Shen Hao gently in the face.
He peeled it off slowly. "...Seriously?"
"Official summon," Zerak said. "Gold seal. That's big."
Deran stood, stretching his arms. "We'll walk you there. Protocol says he gets an escort."
Auren stepped beside him. "Let's go. Don't keep the Admin waiting."
Shen Hao folded the summon, tucked it into his robe, and calmly followed.
The three walked through Void Gate City's upper district — quiet marble roads, floating lanterns, and carved arches humming with stored Qi.
"I'm surprised he called me back this soon," Shen Hao said.
Deran nodded. "He probably wants to see how much you've improved."
Auren added, "Or he has another test ready."
Shen Hao smirked. "Last time I sparred with him, I thought I blocked his attack. Turns out I blocked his warm-up breath."
"Still better than the last guy," Deran said. "He blocked with pride and got buried."
Zerak's voice came through Shen Hao's comm crystal.
"Just keep your greeting normal. Fist to palm, nod, done. The Admin hates dramatic salutes — says it reminds him of bad stage plays."
Shen Hao smirked. "So I shouldn't throw my arms up and say, 'Please, Master of Admin Wisdom, teach me your glorious ways'?"
Zerak replied dryly, "Only if you want him to hit you so hard your next breakthrough happens on the ceiling."
Shen Hao chuckled. "Got it. No drama. Just vibes."
They reached the front gate — massive, gold-trimmed, carved with runes that pulsed faintly as Shen Hao stepped forward.
Deran stopped beside him. "From here on, it's you alone."
Auren nodded once. "Speak plainly. Show strength."
Shen Hao nodded, face calm, aura focused. "I've got this."
The gates opened.
The throne room was quiet. No guards. No distractions. Only light. Qi hummed through the air like soft wind through silk.
At the far end stood the Admin — black robe, hands behind his back, gazing at the slow-turning orbs of energy floating above the hall.
He turned slightly as Shen Hao entered.
Shen Hao stopped a few steps away and brought his fist to his palm — a firm, respectful salute.
"City Admin."
The Admin nodded. His tone was calm, deliberate.
"You've grown. Let's see if your actions match that energy."