novelraw Chapter 251 244: Above the Highest
Chapter 251 244: Above the Highest
The strength of a Martial Artist is actually very difficult to classify. Before one reaches the state of Holy and Bright, it's not easy to differentiate between Martial Artists with concrete ranks, especially since the realm systems of various schools and traditions are often inconsistent.
However, with the establishment of the Martial Arts Association and the systematic development of the Martial Arts Realm, creating a ranking system was an absolute necessity.
Those interested in the formation of the Martial Arts Association had always been extremely curious about what kind of ranking system it would propose.
Therefore, this preliminary draft of the Martial Artist ranking system from the Martial Arts Association instantly spread throughout the Donghua Martial Arts Realm and enthusiast circles.
Songyang University, the cafeteria.
Although it was morning, the cafeteria was still filled with many students.
A university cafeteria is more than just a place to eat. It's a hub for student activities, serving as a venue for dates, meetups, meetings, discussions, parties, and tabletop games.
Today was Saturday, a day off with no classes, so the cafeteria was even more lively.
Jiang Yun, Zhong Ming, and the others had nothing to do, so they also came to the cafeteria, pulled a few tables together, and started playing the tabletop game "Legends of the Three Kingdoms."
Although it wouldn't have been difficult for them to find a better place to hang out given their status, being in the cafeteria undoubtedly allowed them to better experience the university atmosphere, which was a rare pleasure in itself.
The group was getting into the game when Jiang Yun's phone suddenly vibrated.
Jiang Yun casually picked it up and saw that a Martial Arts Realm blogger he followed had just posted something. The content was about the new Martial Artist ranking regulations just released by the Martial Arts Association.
"The Martial Arts Association has announced the regulations for ranking Martial Artists!"
Jiang Yun exclaimed in surprise. He forgot all about the game and hurriedly opened his social media app to check the details.
"They announced the ranking system? How is it divided?"
"Taekwondo has colored belts and a dan ranking system, but that stuff is a bit inflated. I hope this isn't something similar."
"It's not going to be based on some obscure concepts like 'dark energy' or 'transformed power,' is it?"
"..."
Hearing Jiang Yun, the others also stopped the game, took out their phones, and started searching for information online.
Jiang Yun's words were also overheard by students at other tables. The news quickly spread throughout the entire cafeteria, and the students all stopped what they were doing to check their phones.
If you had to say which age group in society pays the most attention to the Martial Arts Realm, it would definitely be university students. After all, who didn't dream of being a martial hero when they were young?
Jiang Yun tapped the notification and saw the ranking rules.
E Class: Bare-handed, poses a lethal threat to 2-3 soldiers armed with bladed weapons.
D Class: Bare-handed, poses a lethal threat to 3-10 soldiers armed with bladed weapons.
C Class: Bare-handed, poses a lethal threat to 2-3 soldiers armed with light firearms.
B Class: Bare-handed, poses a lethal threat to 3-10 soldiers armed with light firearms.
A Class: Except in special circumstances, can pose a lethal threat, bare-handed, to a small armed unit.
S Class: Except in special circumstances, can pose a lethal threat, bare-handed, to a full-fledged, organized armed force equipped with heavy weaponry.
This was the Martial Arts Association's system, arranged alphabetically in reference to international individual threat levels. The goal was to better align with the international situation and make it easier for domestic Martial Artists to gauge their own strength level.
HISS!!
After reading the newly released ranking system, everyone in the cafeteria couldn't help but gasp. The collective intake of breath seemed to warm the surrounding air by a few degrees.
Seeing this ranking system, everyone was left in a state of utter shock.
The description for the highest publicly announced rank, "S Class," in particular, sent a shiver down everyone's spine.
Can pose a lethal threat, bare-handed, to a full-fledged, organized armed force equipped with heavy weaponry.
As students of a prestigious university, they all understood the significance of that sentence.
There was a phrase that existed only in legends and biographies: "a one-man army." And now, it seemed that legend had become reality.
And this was bare-handed. If an S Class Martial Artist were fully armed with advanced equipment, what would their combat power be?
One person against an entire army?! That's simply Superhuman! It's not even human anymore!
Do people like that really exist?!
Everyone subconsciously questioned it, but then they couldn't help but recall the incident that had happened on campus. They remembered the terrifying Celestial Phenomenon and the dazzling lights. If a being of that caliber existed, then the description of an S Class's power didn't seem so exaggerated after all.
Looking at the power rating chart, many of the students had complicated expressions on their faces. The world was really changing. The Martial Arts Association had been established with official backing, so this Data couldn't be a rumor or a forgery.
"That person... they must be 'S Class,' right? One person rivaling an army? How is that even possible to train for? Are they a Cultivator? It's just unimaginable..."
Weng Long lamented.
"That person is definitely 'S Class.' I just don't know how many beings in all of Donghua can be rated 'S Class.' To be honest, I'm starting to wonder if I'm dreaming. Some of the news these past few months has just been too sensational."
Wang Rongrong said with a wry smile.
"'S Class' individuals must be exceedingly rare; otherwise, the world would have descended into chaos long ago. Let's just wait and see. I wonder if the Martial Arts Association will release a list of people who received the 'S Class' rating on the day it's officially founded."
Jiang Yun said.
Hearing this, everyone became even more excited for the establishment of the Martial Arts Association.
...
...
Compared to the shock of ordinary people, those in the Martial Arts Realm were not as stunned. As insiders, they were well aware of the terrifying power of some strong Martial Artists. However, the "S Class" designation was somewhat beyond their expectations.
They knew that anyone rated "S Class" must be a Saint Awakening expert, but the ability to be a one-man army—that level of combat power—was still beyond their imagination, and it made their blood boil with excitement.
The era was undergoing another massive change. Guns and cannons no longer reigned supreme. At the very least, they could no longer completely dictate the fate of a Saint Awakening.
At the same time, everyone was also wondering: was there an even higher level above the highest rank of "S Class"? Or was Saint Awakening the ultimate limit of humanity itself?
Songyang City, Northern Secret Inspection Bureau.
The ranking chart in Zhou Yuanjue's hands was not completely identical to the publicly released version. On his chart, above "S Class," there was another level.
SS.
The description for this level was: Except in special circumstances, an individual requiring the coordinated efforts of multiple military branches and the use of destructive weaponry to eliminate; an individual who, if handled improperly, could pose a major threat to an entire city.
The SS Level threat rating was not publicly announced by the Martial Arts Association because its power description would likely cause widespread panic. It was only circulated among the association's top brass.
Zhou Yuanjue knew that this description was aimed at the "First Generation Level" among the Celestial Demons, or the "Celestial Level" among humans.
What he was curious about was, what level existed above "SS Level"? Was it for beings who had broken through the restraints of the Celestial Level and shattered the second shackle of life?
For example, the entity sealed on the ninth floor of the Kunlun Immortal Palace?