Chapter 28: Changes in the Rankings

The next day.

As soon as Han Xing opened his eyes, he was met with numerous private messages from other survivors. In the group chat, Cheng Jieyong and Shen Yun were also tagging him.

"Hmm? So many people looking for me?" Curious, Han Xing tapped into the group chat. He quickly grasped the situation: while he was sleeping last night, the individual known as "Whisperer" had grinded throughout the night, finally surpassing his territory score in the early hours to snatch the top spot. Furthermore, Whisperer had been promoting his team, "Whisper of God," in the public chat channel, recruiting a large number of survivors. The results were significant; many had joined, and Whisper of God was rapidly becoming the largest faction in District 107.

Han Xing chuckled. "This Whisperer really is a grinder. But honestly, doesn't he feel exhausted staying up all night like that? How long can he possibly keep up this pace?" He stroked his chin, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Cheng Jieyong was frantically tagging Han Xing in the group chat. "@Xinghe, Brother Xing! Wake up! You've lost the top spot! Brother Xing, my brother..."

Han Xing helplessly opened the chat and replied, "Why the panic? The ranking board has only been open for two days; we’re still a long way from reaching 1,000 points."

Seeing his reply, Cheng Jieyong hurriedly wrote, "But didn't you say this Whisperer is likely a Mage, which gives him a much faster exploration speed than you? You’ve been left behind, and it will be very difficult to catch up later. Plus, on the current leaderboard, 'Black Hawk' and 'Papaya Star Spirit' are about to overtake you too!" Cheng Jieyong seemed even more anxious than Han Xing himself.

However, Han Xing replied calmly, "Don't rush. Rushing is useless. Let them fight if they want to. We just need to maintain our own rhythm. Don't risk challenging dangerous clouds just for the sake of the leaderboard. They can't maintain this state for long; no matter how strong one's willpower is, it's impossible to sustain high-intensity combat without sleep."

Shen Yun chimed in, "Brother Xing is right. Their current state is too dangerous. I tried pulling an all-nighter the day before yesterday, and my combat performance plummeted the next day. I almost got bitten to death by monsters several times!" He added with lingering fear, "So, don't look at how hard they're pushing now. In reality, they are walking a tightrope; one mistake and they will pay a heavy price."

Realizing his own impulsiveness, Cheng Jieyong let out an embarrassed laugh. Then, Shen Yun seemed to recall something. "Cheng Jieyong, you need to take it easy too. Don't throw your life away trying to climb the ranks. Do you remember what the system prompt said?"

Cheng Jieyong froze, his expression changing drastically. "Damn! I almost forgot! The system said that after a month, vulnerable groups would be transported to their loved ones. That means my wife and child will come to this world in a month. If something happens to me now..."

Cheng Jieyong broke into a cold sweat. "Sweating buckets, little brother?" Shen Yun teased.

Cheng Jieyong didn't answer. His family was everything to him. Because he had only been in this world for a few days, he hadn't had time to process that, but now the realization hit him hard: in one month, he would reunite with his family in this world. He made a silent vow: he must not let his family face the same dangers he did, and he certainly wouldn't die before they arrived.

"You're right," Cheng Jieyong wrote in the group. "I can't afford to have anything happen to me here. I need to protect Xixi. Brother Yun, Brother Xing, you two be careful as well!"

Shen Yun replied nonchalantly, "I'm fine. It's just my parents at home, and they're still quite healthy. But Brother Xing..." They knew Han Xing’s situation; he had no parents and had grown up alone.

Han Xing smiled. "Just worry about yourselves. I don't want to have lived all these years only to have two strangers pop up next month claiming to be my mom and dad."

Shen Yun and Cheng Jieyong fell silent, not wishing to dwell on the topic. Han Xing continued, "Now, the monsters we encounter are getting stronger. If you come across creatures you can't beat, remember to run if you can. Do not risk a confrontation. If you get injured, drink the Spirit Spring water—don't worry about consumption, I have plenty. Remember: whatever you do, don't die." They nodded solemnly.

...

Meanwhile, other survivors were also discussing Han Xing's ranking. In the "Whisper of God" group, a survivor named "Moonlight Cat" remarked, "Xinghe’s ranking hasn't changed. That guy is probably still sleeping in. Our boss, Whisperer, is so diligent—at this rate, he's guaranteed to take first place!" The others echoed the sentiment, praising Whisperer’s strength.

Whisperer, having just crossed the 200-point mark, read the messages with a pale smile. "If I do take first, it won't just be my own merit. It's thanks to you brothers. If you hadn't helped me collect those Mage skill books and gear, I wouldn't have surpassed Xinghe so quickly." His team showered him with flattery, and Whisperer basked in the adulation. Seeing the once-celebrated "Xinghe" beneath him on the leaderboard brought him a sense of satisfaction that wiped away the fatigue of the night's battle.

However, to remain humble, he typed: "Don't get cocky, everyone. Keep exploring the clouds. I want to see a few more of us from Whisper of God in the top 100."

"Understood, Boss!"

Just then, someone in the group shouted, "Look! Xinghe's score just changed!" In an instant, Han Xing's score jumped from 184 to 196. Whisperer's heart sank; he realized Han Xing was starting to push. He closed the chat, took a deep breath to shake off his exhaustion, and turned his gaze back to the clouds.

...

It wasn't just Whisper of God; other survivors began to sprint. Everyone was accelerating their exploration. Throughout the morning, the leaderboard fluctuated constantly. New names broke into the top ranks, and others climbed dozens of spots in minutes. Competition was fierce.

After a morning of exploration, Han Xing hadn't improved his ranking; instead, he dropped to third place as Black Hawk overtook him. As everyone’s attributes caught up, and with gear and skills becoming more balanced, the deciding factor became individual combat awareness. In this regard, Han Xing was clearly not as skilled as the top-tier survivors, many of whom likely possessed specialized backgrounds—soldiers, boxers, mercenaries—before arriving at the "Sky Island Paradise."

In the local channel, the chatter was pessimistic. "It's over... Star God dropped another rank. Even Papaya Star Spirit is about to catch up. Will he even be able to hold onto the top three?"

"I think it's possible. Xinghe sold a lot of water early on to trade for gear, giving him an initial advantage. Now that everyone has caught up in gear and skills, his advantage is gone."

"So that's why... I thought for sure he'd take first."

"How could he? There are plenty of experts in District 107. It's incredibly difficult for Xinghe to take the lead!"

The local channel was filled with voices predicting his downfall.