March 1, 2057 — 11:00 p.m.
At this moment, nearly every official student in the elite training camp was focused on one thing—the Black Dragon List point rankings.
Not just the students.
Agents and observers from major global forces were stationed around the camp as well, watching the rankings in real time, waiting for the final outcome of the first day of March.
Most of the students who had gone to City 1001 to hunt monsters were already on their way back.
"Damn it—Jiang Yan is still ranked first?!"
"Is this real or fake? Everyone except the long-term top thirty has basically returned already!"
"My god… if he's still first now, doesn't that mean even if Renates and Ebenpas come back, Jiang Yan will at least be top twenty?"
"I'm shocked—this is a true dark horse! A real dark horse!"
"Relax. Once Renates gets back, Jiang Yan will naturally be pushed down."
"Don't be so sure. What if he stays first all the way?"
"Are you drunk? Renates has dominated the Black Dragon List for nearly two years! A newcomer surpassing him—dream on!"
"I'll say it right now: if Jiang Yan is still top five after midnight, I'll eat this table!"
"Hey! You Indian and Sanskrit guys always swear like that—what, free meals again?"
"Forget that—have you noticed Janet? She's still second!"
"Wait—what?! Janet? Damn it, I was only watching Jiang Yan!"
In front of the Black Dragon Carving, emotions varied wildly across the six factions.
The Chinese faction was jubilant.
Meanwhile, the students from the United States, EU, India, France, and Soviet Russia factions all wore grim expressions.
The Chinese faction had gained another heavyweight—on top of Chu Qiang and Shi Jiang.
"Mom! Brother Jiang Yan is incredible—he's still ranked first!"
Li Wei was video-calling Venina, his excitement obvious.
"Wei'er," Venina said with a smile, "keep watching closely. Especially after midnight. The moment Jiang Yan's final ranking is confirmed, tell me immediately."
She had invested heavily in Jiang Yan.
The better he performed, the happier she was.
"Candace, where do you think he'll end up?"
William stared at the Black Dragon List, visibly shaken.
"Top five," Candace replied without hesitation.
Even he hadn't expected this.
What shocked him even more was that Janet had remained near the top the entire time.
That meant her current strength had likely surpassed his own.
The realization left him with a bitter smile.
"How high do you think Jiang Yan can rank?"
Chu Qiang turned to Shi Jiang.
"Top three," Shi Jiang replied calmly.
Chu Qiang's eyes narrowed. "Top three? You seem awfully confident."
"I challenged Jiang Yan a month ago," Shi Jiang said flatly.
"…And I lost."
Chu Qiang's pupils shrank.
Meanwhile, Ebenpas and the other top students finally returned to the camp.
When they saw that Jiang Yan was still ranked first, they were genuinely surprised.
For a newcomer to suppress so many veterans on his first monster-hunting day was already shocking.
At this rate, Jiang Yan's final ranking this month could easily land within the top fifty.
If memory served, the last student to break into the top hundred in their first month had been many years ago.
"He does have some ability," Ebenpas sneered, "but now that I'm back, it's time for him to step aside."
"Before Renates returns, I'll at least enjoy being number one for a few minutes."
With a confident expression, Ebenpas headed toward the Ninefold Building.
Minutes later, he emerged and walked straight to the Black Dragon Carving.
Almost instantly, his name appeared on the list.
"Look! Ebenpas is on the board!"
"What?! Second place?!"
"No way—he didn't surpass Jiang Yan?!"
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
A long-standing top-three powerhouse—unable to push down a newcomer?
That could only mean one thing.
Jiang Yan's ranking was now at least locked into the top two.
"How… how is that possible?"
Ebenpas stood frozen, disbelief written across his face.
Moments ago, he had been ready to accept the admiration and praise of the crowd.
Instead, reality slapped him square in the face.
Jiang Yan had returned at six in the evening.
And Ebenpas—with all his effort—still couldn't surpass him.
His face burned with humiliation.
"Damn it!"
Ebenpas turned and left with an ugly expression.
Only now did he finally understand—
Shi Jiang hadn't been "guiding" Jiang Yan during their challenge.
Shi Jiang had been challenging him seriously.
And he had lost.
Soon, every student who had gone to City 1001—except Renates—had returned.
Not a single one managed to push Jiang Yan out of first place.
Janet, who had once been second, had dropped to ninth.
Even so, that result was shocking.
Her improvement compared to December was astonishing.
But above all—
Jiang Yan remained firmly in first place, like an immovable mountain suppressing every veteran beneath him.
"Once Renates returns, Jiang Yan will definitely be pushed down."
"Yes. No matter how talented he is, he's still a newcomer."
"Renates has ruled the Black Dragon List for two years straight—this won't change."
All hopes now rested on a single name.
11:50 p.m.
Renates returned.
The EU faction erupted into cheers.
Their stabilizing pillar—their final trump card—was back.
Renates glanced at the Black Dragon List, expression unreadable.
Then, under countless gazes, he walked toward the Ninefold Building.
He already knew everything that had happened.
Even Ebenpas had failed.
But that didn't matter.
Because now—
He was here.
"In a year or two," Renates sneered inwardly, "the elite training camp may belong to you."
"But right now…"
"This is my era."
_____________________
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