221: Heavenly Ranking and Earthly Ranking

Feng Mian looked curious upon hearing this.

Seeing that everyone was unfamiliar with the rules of the Liangzhou Trial, Lu Qianqian explained, "The Liangzhou Trial is divided into the Heaven Ranking and the Earth Ranking!"

"Most of the seventh-grade elixirs are produced by those on the Earth Ranking. This is primarily because these people aren't truly after a rank, but are there specifically for the medicinal ingredients."

"Therefore, they have more time, energy, and even experience to search for herbs."

"Those on the Heaven Ranking are aiming for a high rank and naturally won't waste time looking for herbs. Furthermore, over seventy percent of the Cultivators on the Earth Ranking are trained by major families specifically to find herbs in the Trial Grounds."

"Some have even formed a complete trading chain."

"A trading chain? Elaborate on that!"

Hearing this, Feng Ming also became curious and couldn't help but ask.

Seeing that Feng Ming was also listening, Lu Qianqian immediately began her introduction.

"The families of the governors of the various provinces in the Bright Moon Dynasty do not keep their eyes on the herbs within their own province's Trial Grounds!"

"This has become a sort of unspoken agreement. Once someone breaks it, they would likely be mocked by other families. Therefore, the Jiang Family will not participate in the herbs within the Liangzhou Trial Grounds."

"However, Liangzhou City has four major families that monopolize the herbs in the Trial Grounds. These four families have their own industrial foundations. Although they have few members in official positions, there are many who go into business!"

"These four families are: the Zhang Family, the Wang Family, the Li Family, and the Zhao Family. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say these four families exist solely to make money. The Earth Ranking participants they send out account for seventy percent of the total, and they monopolize over ninety percent of the herbs above the seventh grade."

"The remaining ten percent will flow into the hands of other Earth Ranking or Heaven Ranking participants. As for who gets them, it depends on luck."

"And these four families have secretly formed a complete trading chain!"

"The entire Liangzhou Trial is open to the public, and outsiders can watch. Therefore, during the Trial, these families will also openly hold an online auction."

"Any herbs obtained by people from their four families will be auctioned publicly to the highest bidder. Of course, this auction isn't limited to those outside the trial grounds; those inside the trial grounds can also participate!"

"The Trial Grounds are not isolated from the outside world. People inside can contact those outside at any time. Naturally, the herbs go to whoever bids the highest!"

After hearing all this, everyone was dumbfounded.

Feng Mian exclaimed, "This is too much! People outside can provide information to those inside at any time, like whether there's anyone nearby or if they're being pursued—wouldn't they be able to know all that?"

Lu Qianqian nodded. "That's true, but there's a bit of a delay. It's fine for participating in an auction, but providing intelligence is basically meaningless!"

"Because by the time you receive a warning from the outside, you've basically already encountered whatever enemy you were going to encounter!"

Everyone nodded. If that was the case, it was acceptable!

Lu Qianqian continued, "Actually, the auction is just the tip of the iceberg for the four families' dealings. They have transactions even more outrageous than this."

Everyone was shocked. This was only the tip of the iceberg?

What were those transactions then?

Lu Qianqian didn't keep them in suspense and said directly, "The Heaven Ranking placements!"

Everyone was stunned. What kind of thing was that?

Feng Ming's interest was piqued. Could the Heaven Ranking placements also be traded?

If that were the case, what would be the point of the Liangzhou Trial's existence?

Lu Qianqian continued, "After all, financial power is also a part of one's strength. When the Bright Moon Dynasty recruits officials, they consider comprehensive strength. That is to say, besides personal power, they also look at financial power. If you can use your wealth to enter the top ten of the Heaven Ranking, that is also a skill, proving your financial resources are vast."

"Money makes the world go 'round! With that much money, wouldn't a group of powerful experts naturally gather around you?"

Everyone nodded. There was nothing wrong with that logic!

Lu Qianqian's words had subverted their understanding.

"Then again, to spend money to buy a rank isn't something everyone can afford. If someone were truly going to spend that kind of money, it would probably only be the Governors of the major provinces."

"The expenses are beyond imagination, so the four families' business usually only involves a ticket or two."

Hearing this, Feng Ming understood. It meant that while large jumps weren't possible, if someone was short by a ticket or two, they could shorten the gap or even overtake others by purchasing them.

"The specific method is that some Heaven Ranking experts might be in urgent need of a certain herb. Besides money, they can also trade with heaven ranking ticketss!"

"Some Heaven Ranking experts with many tickets will choose to sell a few in exchange for money, which forms the trading chain!"

"While it won't affect the Heaven Ranking placements too much, within a small range, it can still show a difference!"

Feng Ming couldn't help but click his tongue at this.

According to this logic, couldn't the medicinal ingredients he wanted also be obtained through this method?

It seemed more appropriate than just throwing money around.

Of course, the number of tickets was also very important; this method could only be used if one had an excess of tickets.

Thinking of this, Feng Ming prepared to snatch more heaven ranking ticketss once the Trial began!

Moreover, compared to the outside world where one could only use money to buy herbs above the seventh grade, he could also use heaven ranking ticketss. This made him much more competitive!

Thinking this, Feng Ming asked, "What are these heaven ranking ticketss?"

"After the Trial begins, every Cultivator participating in the Heaven Ranking will receive one initial heaven ranking tickets. Subsequent tickets are snatched from other participants. After three months, the top ten participants with the most heaven ranking ticketss will be the winners!"

"However, although the Heaven Ranking and Earth Ranking are in the same venue, they cannot attack each other. Therefore, Earth Ranking Cultivators cannot obtain heaven ranking ticketss. If Heaven Ranking participants have the same number of tickets, it counts as two spots!"

"For example, if first and second place have the same number of tickets, they are ranked according to the order in which they were obtained, and so on!"

Everyone nodded. If no one had told them, they really wouldn't have known these rules.

Of course, they might have been informed upon reaching the Trial site, but knowing now allowed them to be prepared in advance.

Compared to the lively and harmonious atmosphere on Feng Ming's side, Huangfu Rui's side was much more somber.

Not only were there fewer people, but they all had their own hidden agendas, so there was no conversation at all.

Some closed their eyes to sleep while others looked at the scenery; there were few people along the way.

Fortunately, the road gradually became more crowded. Besides some pedestrians, the others were similar to them, all heading to participate in the Trial.

Of course, everyone's routes and travel times were different, so they didn't travel together; they would part ways as soon as they met.

Stopping and starting along the way, nine days passed in the blink of an eye.

Huangfu Yunyan finally lost her patience and began to vent her anger at Huangfu Rui: "We'll reach Meng City soon. After resting for a day, it'll take five more days to reach Liangzhou City. Have you finally thought of a way to get close to the people of the Jiang Family?"