Chapter 865: Beyond the Rankings
Chapter 865: Beyond the Rankings
September 25, 2017
This time, the 'Yue Dan Ping' only had fifteen spots, and Xu Shao had come up with a unique idea of creating three separate rankings.
While this approach might seem unconventional, the lower two rankings were clearly meant to be runners-up, overshadowed by the glory of those who made it to the top five.
However, those who found themselves in this situation didn't seem too bothered by it. After all, they didn't take this matter too seriously, and their participation in the 'Yue Dan Ping' was merely for the sake of completing tasks and gaining rewards.
But their perspective changed once they received the rewards for the task. The five in the lower rankings were all high-level talents, and the middle three were outright master-level talents. No one could guarantee the level of rewards they would receive.
Now, those who didn't make it to the top five immediately regretted their decision. If they had known that the rewards for this task would be so generous, they wouldn't have hesitated to invest more resources.
In this situation, they couldn't help but think that if they had put in more effort and spent more resources, they could have secured a spot in the top five.
Of course, by now, the outcome was already sealed. Regretting their decision at this point was futile, and they could only stare at the top five rankings, wondering who among them would be so lucky, and which wealthy individual would be willing to invest heavily in securing a top spot.
As soon as the top five rankings were announced, the subordinates of various major forces in Runan immediately used special means to send the list of top five to their respective leaders.
Since these leaders highly valued the rankings, they utilized special channels and spared no expense to ensure that the list of top five reached their hands within just half a day.
Upon receiving the list of top five, the eight in-game characters on the rankings first scanned the list to check if there were any other in-game characters who had made it to the top five. Once they confirmed that no other in-game characters had made it to the top five, especially the three in the middle rankings, breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's a good thing Lu Hai Kong didn't participate; otherwise, I'd be the one bleeding out," the three in the middle rankings remarked upon seeing that Lu Hai Kong's name wasn't among the top five. A smile of relief spread across their faces, and they then turned their attention to the list of top five.
The top five were all native NPCs, and each of them was a renowned figure in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Yuan Shao: "A noble minister with a grand vision, his youthful vigor dominates the world. A thousand guests, and a million soldiers, all under his command."
Chen Liu Cao Cao: "A capable minister in peaceful times, a cunning hero in chaotic times!"
Xishu Liu Bei: "Broad-minded and magnanimous, he possesses the demeanor of the Han Dynasty's revival."
Changsha Sun Jian: "A military talent without equal, his courage surpasses all in the army."
Xiliang Dong Zhuo: "A strong and righteous man, his ambition knows no bounds."
If one were familiar with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, they would know that Yuan Shao's description had a second half, but it wasn't very flattering. Interestingly, Xu Shao didn't reveal the second half of the description.
However, the in-game characters on the rankings didn't pay much attention to this so-called 'Yue Dan Ping.' Many of them glanced at the list and then set it aside, except for a few who were more sensitive and became lost in thought upon seeing the names on the list.
This sudden 'Yue Dan Ping' task seemed to be specifically designed for the top five individuals.
The reason was simple. The current trajectory of this world had already deviated significantly from historical records. If the events were to unfold according to the original timeline, many of these individuals wouldn't even be present in the coalition against Dong Zhuo.
For instance, Yuan Shao had just left Luoyang not long ago. If the coalition against Dong Zhuo were to form at this point, there's no way he would be part of it.
Take Cao Cao, for example. At this stage, he should be wandering aimlessly, but here he was, already establishing his foothold in Xiliang.
So, this 'Yue Dan Ping' task could be seen as the system's way of maintaining the coalition against Dong Zhuo's storyline.
However, the system also showed some compromise during this process. Liu Bei, who should be having a hard time, was given a spot in the top five, significantly boosting his reputation.
Of course, from an outsider's perspective, this 'Yue Dan Ping' was primarily about gaining reputation and completing tasks.
Lu HaiKong, a name that had just appeared on the new leaderboard, was a cause for celebration among the various powers. However, the excitement was short-lived as they realized that this new leaderboard was different from the previous three. The new list bore only one name, and it was not a double name like the others, but a triple name.
Lu HaiKong's [Mastermind Version], a masterpiece, had finally emerged. The various powers, who had just sent out the previous leaderboard, were stunned by this new development.
In the study of Xu Shao, the master of the estate, stood with a jade pendant in hand, his gaze fixed on the pendant as he sipped warm wine. This pendant was the very one Lu HaiKong had received from Han Lingdi as a reward during his first visit to Luoyang. For the past two years, Lu HaiKong had not been able to discern the attributes of this pendant. Recently, when Xun Yu asked for it, Lu HaiKong had readily given it to him without much thought.
Little did Lu HaiKong know that this pendant was the key to his [Mastermind Version]. Xun Yu and Xi Zhi Cai, the two who had helped him complete the task, had sent the pendant back to him after the leaderboard was issued.
Xu Shao, holding the warm wine, murmured to himself, "Well done, Lu HaiKong. Well done, Xun Gongda!"
(End of Chapter)
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