Chapter 8: A girl who is 150 centimeters tall, wearing sports attire is level 5
Sun Jing stood before the lady with a cold and composed demeanor, his eyes fixed on her with steely resolve. "Before I respond to your query, there is one thing I must know," he said with a hint of frost in his voice.
The lady's countenance lit up with a radiant smile as she beckoned Sun Jing to ask his question. "May I inquire if it is possible for me to return to this world?" Sun Jing queried with an air of trepidation.
The lady's giggle was laced with a playful glint as she regarded Sun Jing with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "What if I were to say no, would you be willing to journey to the other realm?" she teased.
Sun Jing's forehead creased with a frown as he realized that her response was not what he had hoped for. "While I appreciate your wit, my query requires a more sincere answer," he replied sternly.
The lady's voice was as sweet as honey as she replied, "It is indeed possible to return to this world, but the road ahead will not be easy."
Sun Jing nodded in acknowledgement as her response was in line with his expectations. "I have made up my mind to venture forth into the other world," he declared with unwavering determination.
The lady beamed with pleasure and enquired, "Do you have any further queries?"
Sun Jing expressed his desire to purchase items from the shop, to which the lady readily agreed and directed him to the shop interface. A plethora of food, weapons, and armor were on display, but most were prohibitively expensive for Sun Jing's limited means.
Undeterred, he scoured the shop for an affordable item, finally settling on one that cost him his entire stash of 200 bronze coins. Despite the steep price, he was content with his purchase.
With his item in hand, Sun Jing delved deeper into his preparation for the journey, bombarding the lady with questions. Though some were off-limits, the lady answered the ones she was permitted to with grace and patience.
"Master Sun, for the remaining questions, you will receive answers only upon reaching the other world. I wish you a safe and successful journey," said the lady as the white bus pulled up. Sun Jing shouldered his backpack and boarded the bus. As the bus drove away, the smile faded from the lady's face, and she appeared as cold as Sun Jing himself. Suddenly, a middle-aged man appeared beside her. The lady removed her maid costume to reveal a black t-shirt and blue jeans, and spoke in a frigid tone. "I have completed your task. You will have to handle it on your own next time."
The man responded, "There will be no next time. This is the last of them. It took us five years, but we have finally accomplished our mission."
The lady questioned, "Mission? Sending innocent people to their deaths? Over the last five years, we have witnessed what has happened to those individuals. I am not even sure why we are doing this."
The man replied, "It is the will of our Lord, and we must follow his orders, even if we cannot perceive the reasoning. However, we have seen some individuals with exceptional potential, haven't we?"
"That woman was a pleasant surprise indeed, which is why you are interested in that man. He did well, but he is not the best candidate for this test," the lady informed the man.
The man nodded in agreement and asked about the progress of the others. "They have completed their preparations, and we should be able to meet on time," the lady assured him. Without a trace, both the man and the lady vanished.
Thirty minutes later, the bus arrived at its destination, and Sun Jing disembarked. He found himself in an expansive grass field that seemed to stretch endlessly. In the center stood a small platform made of stones, capable of accommodating only one person. Sun Jing scanned his surroundings and noticed several other white buses arriving, with numerous other knights like him disembarking. Sun Jing also observed that everyone's level was displayed above their heads, with most individuals being level 2, followed by level 3. Sun Jing's level was level 2 as well. While perusing the shop earlier, he had come across an item that could camouflage his level, rendering it at any level he wished. Although he remained ambivalent about keeping a low profile, he realized that doing so would help him evade unwanted attention and potential problems.
As Sun Jing continued to survey his surroundings, he observed that there were four individuals who possessed a level 5 ranking. Two of these individuals were men, attired in branded suits that exuded an air of affluence, and they appeared to be deep in conversation with one another. The third individual was a diminutive female, clad in an athletic hoodie and jogging pants. Although she was petite in stature, her gaze conveyed a sense of unwavering fortitude that belied her physical appearance. As he surveyed the area, Sun Jing noted a significant gender imbalance, with only ten females present among the crowd. Suddenly, he activated his "Detect" skill, which responded to his instinctive feeling that something was awry. It prompting him to focus his attention on an elderly gentleman who sat alone in a nearby corner. The man appeared to be approximately sixty years of age, and a question mark hovered above his head, indicating that his level was indeterminate. Curiosity piqued, Sun Jing recalled that he had previously inquired about the level system from the lady who had told him that he would not be able to perceive the level of someone superior to him. However, before he could ponder this mystery further, the old man caught his gaze and offered a cryptic smile before disappearing without a trace. Sun Jing was left to ponder the implications of the old man's actions, only to be interrupted by the approach of the final level 5-ranked individual, a man who strode purposefully towards him.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone