Lu Lianxue spoke, a smile gracing her exceptionally beautiful face.
Seeing this, Zhang Wei raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Xiao Xue, that smile of yours is a bit off. Are you sure it's just about the update to the International Artifact Ranking?"
"I'm sure. If you don't believe me, go check it yourself."
Lu Lianxue smiled.
"I'll go take a look."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wei picked up his phone and logged onto the international forum. His eyes immediately fell upon the post that had reached the top of the trending topics:
[International Artifact Ranking Update!]
He clicked to open it.
[Hello everyone, I am the update personnel for the Artifact Ranking. Fortunately, I was able to contact classmate Xiao Xuan from Great Xia, and we collaborated, allowing me to obtain a lot of new information. Therefore, the Artifact Ranking has been updated ahead of schedule. Next, as usual, I'll briefly go over the highlights of this update. For those who want to see the rankings directly, you can scroll down to the artifact ranking table below.
This update covers the top 100 artifacts globally. Compared to the previous ranking, 5 artifacts have been eliminated from the list due to damage or loss, 8 artifacts have been strengthened and have risen in rank, and 4 new artifacts have entered the rankings. Here is the artifact list...]
"Five artifacts damaged or lost. It seems the battles between ghost exorcists and spirits have been quite intense in recent years. I recall Zhang Chao telling me that only 2 artifacts were damaged in the last ranking."
Zhang Wei said, then looked towards the artifact ranking table.
As he scrolled through the list, it wasn't long before he let out a soft exclamation upon seeing the twenty-fourth item.
Then, Zhang Wei looked towards Lu Lianxue.
"So that's why you were smiling so mysteriously earlier, Xiao Xue."
At the same time, Lu Lianxue heard Zhang Wei's words and smiled.
"Yes, that's it. Congratulations, Zhang Wei, your artifact has made it onto the list."
As she spoke, she looked at Zhang Wei's phone, where the introduction to the artifact at rank twenty-four could be seen on the artifact ranking list.
[Rank Twenty-Four: White Feather Fan]
[Level: Nation-Guarding]
[Holder: Zhang Wei, Ghost Exorcist of Great Xia.]
[Combat Record: Zhang Wei once used this artifact to fight against a Nation-Guarding Fallen Angel and remained undefeated. He once used this artifact to break the seal of the scepter of God, an artifact ranked seventh. He once used this artifact to suppress the oldest evil spirit in Thief Country...]
Just then, his phone rang. The caller ID displayed – Little Mochi.
As soon as the call was connected, Qiu Xiaolin's voice immediately came through.
"Wow! Xiao Wei Zi, you picked up so fast. Weren't you and Xiao Xue busy doing it? Hehe, well, you're still weak, so it's understandable. Anyway, enough about that. Xiao Wei Zi, quickly go onto the international forum, your artifact is on the global artifact ranking!"
"Guess what the rank is? It's twenty-fourth. And not only that, Xiao Wei Zi, you've broken a record now. Globally, no artifact refiner has ever had their first artifact made enter the ranking. You're the only one. Amazing!"
Listening to Qiu Xiaolin chatter incessantly on the phone, Zhang Wei grinned.
"Of course. Who do you think I am? I'm Little Mochi's man, how could I not be amazing? Right?"
"Hehe, you're so sweet-talkative. Here's a kiss across thousands of kilometers for you, /"
"I want..."
Just as Zhang Wei was about to speak, Qiu Xiaolin seemed to know what he was going to say and interrupted him with a giggle.
"Let me guess, you want to say that since your artifact is on the global ranking, you want a reward from me."
"Hehe, you know me so well, Little Mochi. So, what do you think the reward should be?"
"Alright, alright, I'll let you have it, go all out. You're the winner, you're the boss."
As she finished speaking, Zhang Wei and Qiu Xiaolin both burst into laughter. Lu Lianxue, who was listening to their conversation, shook her head with a smile. She used to feel shy and a bit shocked by their way of talking, but now she was accustomed to it.
Following that, Qiu Xiaolin continued, "Never mind that. Xiao Wei Zi, I'm telling you, I might be going to Thief Country in a few days."
"Hmm? Little Mochi, why are you going to Thief Country? What's up? Do you miss me that much? Are you that eager to see me? But I'm still weak, I can't handle you too much. You'll have to take it easy on me then."
"I'll hit you! It's not that I miss you. Well, okay, a big part of the reason I'm going to Thief Country is because I miss you, hehe. I plan to exorcise ghosts in Thief Country, and I can see you then too."
Afterward, Qiu Xiaolin didn't hide anything and explained the reason. Yesterday, she was looking for ghost exorcism missions at the Guarding Division to improve her strength. By chance, she saw a mission to exorcise ghosts in Thief Country. Qiu Xiaolin checked the mission level and found it was within her capabilities, so she accepted the mission without hesitation.
This was why Qiu Xiaolin was preparing to go to Thief Country. She thought that she could exorcise ghosts to improve her strength, and at the same time, she could see Zhang Wei. She couldn't help but worry, even though Lu Lianxue and Zhang Wei had both told her that Zhang Wei's injuries weren't serious and wouldn't have any lasting effects, especially after reading the descriptions of the Vatican incident on the international forum.
And now, with this mission, she had a perfect opportunity to go see Zhang Wei, and she wouldn't have to worry about Zhang Wei preventing her from seeing him for fear of her worrying. Of course, she didn't tell Zhang Wei all of this, only that she had found a ghost exorcism mission in Thief Country.
However, even though Qiu Xiaolin didn't say it, how could Zhang Wei not know? Upon hearing that she had found a ghost exorcism mission in Thief Country, he felt touched.
"A ghost exorcism mission in Thief Country, that's great. I haven't seen my Little Mochi in a long time, I miss her. I also miss Little Mochi's mochi."
"Hehe, I miss you and Xiao Xue too. But let's be clear first, I'm not going specifically because you're injured, so don't you dare stop me from going." Qiu Xiaolin pouted.
Zhang Wei chuckled upon hearing this.
"I won't. I'll return to Seoul from the Aegean Sea as soon as possible. Tell me what time your flight is, and I'll pick you up."
If he hadn't known that the Gardener was his godmother before, Zhang Wei would have definitely disagreed with Qiu Xiaolin coming, especially since he was being targeted by the Guarding Division. But now that he knew the Gardener was his godmother, He Juan, Zhang Wei naturally had no worries.
"My flight is at 1 PM the day after tomorrow. Do you want to pick me up, Xiao Wei Zi? You still have some conscience. We are, after all, going to see you."
"Of course I have conscience. Not only will I pick you up, but I'll also prepare the highest-class hotel for Little Mochi, how about a presidential suite? And adding that you'll stay with me, isn't that very thoughtful?"
"Remove the part about staying with you, and it would be very thoughtful. But if you add that, hmph, then it's clearly with ulterior motives."
"What ulterior motives?"
"I'm not telling. You're trying to lead me on. Only Xiao Xue would fall for that. I won't fall for it. Xiao Xue, are you listening too? Quickly kick Zhang Wei for me, or take a bite out of him."
As she said this, Zhang Wei chuckled.
...