Chapter 92
According to the normal pace of the Evil World, even if Cynthia ran dungeons daily, she would still need to ensure nearly all were graded A or higher, and then undergo a comprehensive evaluation before becoming a Master-Rank player. The exact criteria weren’t fully known—even the five great guilds only had rough guesses.
Some players made it onto the list with 10 S-ranks. Others failed even after 12. Clearly, deeper factors influenced the system’s choices.
For Cynthia to get listed this fast… it didn’t match anyone’s understanding of the ranking rules.
“So that means what Cynthia said before was true.” Lu Chuan smiled. “As long as you defeat a Master-Rank player in a dungeon and clear it with a high rating, the system will recognize you as someone qualified to challenge or even surpass them, filling an empty slot and granting the right to take on Divine Challenge dungeons.”
Shen Li blinked, stunned. “You knew?”
“Of course.” Lu Chuan said casually. “Cynthia even borrowed a gun from me. She told me her plan before going in.”
“Then why didn’t you go with her?” Shen Li’s forehead veins bulged. “If she could do it, you could too! If you became a Master-Rank player, then—”
“Then what?” Lu Chuan countered. “Do you think what I already have is something an ordinary master can match?”
Shen Li nearly coughed blood at that.
Did this man understand the weight of the Master Ranking?
He had fought tooth and nail for years just to scrape onto the very tail end of the list. Even so, being on it made outsiders view him as a strong candidate for guildmaster, alongside [Greedy Wolf Star].
That was the credibility of being Master-Rank!
“If I became one, I’d just be stepping into the spotlight. I don’t want that.” Lu Chuan scoffed. “My real estate tycoon plan isn’t finished. I can’t rush into the Master-Ranking list yet. Besides, my Golden Tower in the dungeons isn’t fully built. Assets are incomplete. Not urgent. And from the looks of it, once you’re Master-Rank, you probably can’t freely pick your dungeons anymore. That would wreck the construction, investments, and operations of my skyscrapers. For just a title, why should I sacrifice all that?”
“Your influence as a Master-Rank would be enormous—”
“Nonsense. You’re only so quick to accept because you never earned much money. But me? I worked hard for every cent I made!” Lu Chuan shot back without mercy.
“Worked hard? More like swindled! Even your starting capital came from extortion! I just found out—you gave us only two billion, while keeping the majority for yourself!” Shen Li snapped.
“That was my hard-earned service fee. If I didn’t take it, the useless faction in Star Guild would’ve wasted it. I saved the guild billions in the long run! Do you think they dare spend recklessly now? I earned it fair and square.” Lu Chuan snorted, defending his honor.
This argument was going off track fast.
Shen Li rubbed his forehead, realizing it was pointless to continue.
“Fine. You can become a Grandmaster whenever you want.” He was utterly defeated. Nothing could change Lu Chuan’s mind.
“See? That’s better.” Lu Chuan grinned. “There are 200 slots on the Grandmaster Ranking. If I want in, it’s easy. But if I miss a chance to make money—that loss is forever. Years later, when I’m old, I’ll regret it so much I’d slap myself.” He spoke with heartfelt sincerity.
Back when he was just a poor student, he had painstakingly saved a little money, planning to buy a certain BitX coin. But doing so required opening an international account, climbing over firewalls, and it would’ve cut into his part-time work hours. So he didn’t buy. Then he had to watch it skyrocket far beyond his reach.
That one regret had gnawed at him for over ten years.
Now things were different.
Lu Chuan had the choice—and he wouldn’t miss out again.
*
Meanwhile, other guilds were in an uproar over Cynthia’s sudden rise.
News of her dominated the feeds, and her and Lilus’ backgrounds were once again dragged into the spotlight, topping searches everywhere.
But Lu Chuan didn’t care. He simply arranged a meeting with Cynthia to return the [Infinite Divine Pistol].
When they met, Cynthia wasn’t alone. Lilus and Messiah were with her.
Makes sense—Cynthia becoming a Master-Rank player was such a huge deal, of course Messiah had to come by and ask about it. As for Lilus, he had long since become his sister’s little accessory: wherever she went, he followed, and you couldn’t shake him off.
“Looks like you really have been making quite a bit lately.” Messiah looked much better than before, and his beauty was even more striking. “A few days ago, I entered a dungeon, and from an NPC I actually heard news about your Golden Tower. I almost thought I misheard.”
Lu Chuan’s Golden Tower had already become somewhat well-known in the NPC world.
Mainly because it brought together the resources of several big financial groups, with high-level NPCs holding down the fort, so naturally business thrived.
What’s more, when word spread that the Skyscraper was looking to expand and recruit more investors, even the most notorious loan shark company in the Evil World sent employees over. That had left NPCs in the dungeon world deeply shocked.
“Haha, just a small trick.” Being praised for his business empire pleased Lu Chuan far more than compliments about himself. “Lately, I’ve been sneaking back to my territory to manage the Golden Tower. Profits have been good, so I plan to invest in more, open Golden Towers all over the dungeon worlds. If you see cheap, suitable land in your runs, let me know. I’ll send my people to scout, and if it checks out, I’ll buy it.”
Lu Chuan now was truly wealthy and imposing.
On top of that, he had just earned a fortune from the Blood King. He was ambitious—burning to spread his businesses everywhere.
“Alright,” Messiah smiled. “Once I organize my notes, I’ll send you places I think are decent.”
Lu Chuan gave him a long look, then suddenly chuckled. “Don’t worry. When my businesses grow and I need ads and endorsements, I’ll definitely hire you to shoot them.”
With looks like that, plastered on giant billboards, they’d surely bring in more customers. Couldn’t waste that—Messiah had to be given money-making opportunities.
Number 9 was even better-looking, but as an Executor, if he appeared in an ad he’d probably scare off every last customer.
Messiah just gave Lu Chuan a helpless look and a bitter smile.
“I’ve made it onto the Master Ranking,” Cynthia spoke up, returning the [Infinite Divine Pistol]. “I used up two of your bullets. I had prepared two items to repay you, but I figured you’d prefer money. So—here’s 500 million. Consider it my sincerity.”
She handed over a card. Lu Chuan snatched it up with lightning reflexes.
“Aiya, no need to be polite. If you ever need more, just borrow from me anytime.” Lu Chuan’s eyes curved with joy—two bullets had earned him this much. That was a windfall.
“Big sis, I think giving him 100 million would’ve been plenty,” Lilus muttered from the side. “No, even 10 million would’ve made him just as happy. After all, those bullets are condensed from divine power—they don’t cost a thing.”
“Lil, we’ve known each other so long. That’s a terrible thing to say.” Lu Chuan glared at him. “Your Resurrection Guild isn’t short on money!”
“But Sis wants to be guildmaster,” Lilus blurted. “Money still helps.”
The moment the words left his mouth, he realized he had misspoken.
Damn it—just blurted it out.
This was all Lu Chuan’s fault.
Every time he faced him, Lilus felt a deep sense of crisis. And when that pressure hit, he always ended up saying the wrong thing.
And now he’d done it again.
He cursed himself silently, praying his sister wouldn’t be angry.
Messiah and Lu Chuan both turned their eyes to Cynthia.
She didn’t bother hiding it. She nodded and said, “Yes, that’s true. Because of our results over the years, some people in the guild want to replicate us—siblings like Lil and me. They think with us as precedent, they can strengthen the Resurrection Guild even more.”
But to Cynthia and Lilus, that was their deadliest sore spot.
They knew how hard their lives had been, and that the only reason they survived was because of the help of the guildmaster and vice-leaders. Even so, they had been hated by countless people and nearly killed many times as children. They would never allow anyone to artificially create another pair like them.
To stop that, they had to climb to the very top.
Only by becoming guildmaster themselves could they wipe out all records, cut off any possibility, and ensure future attempts would fail.
As if it were so simple—that just by pairing a player with an NPC, a child could be born?
What a joke.
If it were that easy, the Evil World would’ve produced far more than just the two of them by now.
“Guildmaster, huh? That’s perfect. Messiah, since you’re here, you should go for it too.” Lu Chuan launched into a spiel. “Being guildmaster is way more interesting than being on the Master Ranking. There are two hundred Masters, but each guild only has one leader. If you two became leaders, we could form an alliance…”
With a peaceful and stable environment, the economy would surely boom!
