Starforce Warriors

Chapter 49: Pay Up

Finally, he had cleared the level. Li Xiaofei let out a long breath. He had also cultivated Graceful Step of the Waves to perfection.

This meant his ability to protect himself had greatly increased. Now, his chances of escaping would be significantly higher if he encountered martial artists at the Limit Breaking Realm and couldn’t defeat them.

"Unexpectedly, killing the Golden Scorpion King earned me a Supergod Rating," Li Xiaofei mused. "This should be higher than the Transcendent Rating, right? However, aside from the honor, was there any other substantial reward for achieving such a high rating?"

The light core's electronic voice provided the answer.

"You will receive a Supergod Rating badge. Wearing this badge entitles you to a permanent 2% discount on weapon purchases from the light network's official store."

Li Xiaofei was overjoyed. He had yet to experience shopping on the light core since he lacked funds. But as someone who had experienced shopping on major e-commerce websites like Taibai, , and Pingdoodoo five hundred years ago, he naturally understood the significance of a permanent 2 percent discount. He had struck gold.

"Would you like to make this rating public?" the light network's electronic voice asked.

Li Xiaofei didn’t hesitate. "Make it public."

The principal had mentioned that he could flaunt his achievements on the light network. Li Xiaofei also felt like there was no need to hide his capabilities.

"Initiate transmission to the next level trial," Li Xiaofei added. He was ready to continue climbing the ranks.

***

At the Starry Sky Hotel.

Inspector Li Zhoumin was lying on the sofa and drinking milk. Suddenly, a faint blue light flickered by his ear as some information was transmitted. Shock suddenly crossed his face.

"So soon?"

He sprang up like a carp leaping from the water and accessed the light network control system.

After a quick search, he confirmed the information.

"The Golden Sand Scorpion King has been killed. Li Xiaofei... is no ordinary genius."

If the other top talents in Liuhe Base City are once-in-a-decade geniuses, or even once-in-twenty or thirty years, then Li Xiaofei is undoubtedly a once-in-a-century genius.

Hehe, but someone like me who lounges around all day encountered this genius. I'm going to hit it big. I must protect this kid; he's my ticket to promotion and wealth in the future.

Let me first adjust the permissions and increase the security level to prevent others from discovering him. Next, I need to figure out a way to meet this kid. Let's establish a good relationship first.

***

The ranking points forum was in an uproar.

Your Grandpa's ranking points are skyrocketing.

In less than an hour, his points have increased from 1500 to 3000.

This rate of increase is astonishing.

This meant that Your Grandpa has slain at least 60 Sand Scorpions. Sand Scorpions, the notoriously tough beasts.

Everyone who had taken a biology class knew how difficult Sand Scorpions were to deal with. Their thick skin and their ferocious stingers made them formidable opponents.

For most people, killing four or five Sand Scorpions was the limit. Even those geniuses who had cleared Ancient Desert City typically only killed around ten, which was the standard for clearing the level.

Currently, the top-ranked One Thought Supergod had killed 20 Sand Scorpions in two hours, achieving an Upper Limit Rating, which was already considered rare.

Everyone following the progress was shocked by Your Grandpa's efficiency in killing Sand Scorpions. In no time, Your Grandpa's points reached 4500, placing him second on the leaderboard. The first place was still held by One Thought Supergod, whose points had climbed to 5200.

At this rate, Your Grandpa will be back to first place in no time.

Wait, no, his points aren't moving.

Huh? Really? After reaching 4500, they suddenly stopped.

What's going on?

Could it be that he was killed by the Sand Scorpions?

No, the query shows that he's still in the Ancient Desert City.

Is he stuck in there?

Doesn't this just confirm what One Thought Supergod said, that Your Grandpa's level four scene has issues and he can never clear it?

One Thought Supergod was right.

The forum was abuzz with speculation. With less than ten days until the High School War God League started, the ranking points forum was highly active, and countless people were following the developments closely.

Half an hour passed. Then an hour. An hour and a half.

As time ticked by, One Thought Supergod's points had climbed to 5500. Meanwhile, Your Grandpa's points seemed to have been frozen at 4500, not increasing by even a single point.

At this point, everyone was convinced that Your Grandpa had indeed been punished by the system and was permanently stuck in the level four trial. There was no other explanation.

Your Grandpa, come out and honor the bet.

Hurry up and show yourself.

Damn, can't play fair, huh?

Trash, showing your true colors now?

We need to unite and file a complaint with the Education Department. Your Grandpa should be disqualified from the competition and stripped of his super account.

I've already started an official poll, everyone go vote.

The forum was in an uproar. At that moment, One Thought Supergod also made an appearance. He posted a screenshot of the leaderboard, tagging Li Xiaofei, and added a two-word caption—

Hehe.

Another ten minutes passed. Your Grandpa still hadn't shown up.

One Thought Supergod tagged him again and posted.

Can't handle it, can you?

The forum users were relentless in their mockery. Everyone felt they had exposed a despicable cheater and wanted to nail him to the pillar of shame.

Just then—

The light network's official system announced on the global channel. "Congratulations to user Your Grandpa for successfully killing the hidden boss star beast, the Golden Scorpion King, in two hours and thirty-five minutes, and clearing the level four plus trial Ancient Desert City with a Supergod Rating."

Instantly, the forum fell silent. Everyone was stunned. For a full three minutes, no new posts appeared on the forum. Everyone was trying to process the announcement.

A hidden boss?

What was that?

The Golden Scorpion King?

Has anyone ever heard of such a star beast in Ancient Desert City?

What is a level four plus trial?

Supergod Rating?

I know about that. But the issue is, Liuhe Base City has never had a high school genius achieve a Supergod Rating before?

So he really... I'm crying.

So, it's because Your Grandpa performed so insanely well in Ancient Desert City that he triggered a hidden mechanism and drew out the Golden Scorpion King? Which is why it took him so long to clear the level?

The last time he suddenly went offline, he must have been defeated by the Golden Scorpion King.

But how much time has passed since then? He came back and successfully cleared it. He even earned a Supergod Rating.

A true boss, this is a real boss.

I remember an old saying: Some people score 100 because that's their limit, while others score 100 because the maximum score is only 100.

I suspect you're throwing shade at One Thought Supergod.

Look, the leaderboard has changed again.

My God, 8000 points?

Your Grandpa's points have skyrocketed to 8000?

He directly parachuted to the top of the leaderboard.

The forum erupted with a flood of new posts. Your Grandpa's reputation did a complete 180. The frenzy of mockery turned into fervent praise as posts began singing his accolades. This kind of reversal was the most stimulating for everyone's emotions.

I apologize to Your Grandpa, I was narrow-minded, seeing the world from the bottom of a well, and didn't understand the world of a true boss. I even thought he was cheating...

I apologize too...

I'm sorry.

Sorry.

The forum was instantly flooded with apology posts.

Only the bet post made by One Thought Supergod remained pinned at the top. The forum users swarmed into the post and built a comment tower as they furiously tagged One Thought Supergod, with only two words in each comment—

Pay up.

Pay up.

Pay up.