Eternal life begins with saving my clan

In the inner city, a young man rushed with large strides to a specific courtyard, his face laced with panic and worry.

Realizing his pace was not fast enough, he picked up speed and raced toward the courtyard.

Bang!

He slammed the door open and entered.

"Father, mother," he shouted.

He didn't care whether his parents were having a blissful union between a man and a woman. Right now, he needed their attention, and he would get it by all possible means.

Creak!

The door of the main room opened, and a middle-aged man came out with anger.

"Are you insane? Why would you scream as if the clan is under attack?" his father berated.

"Who cares about that?" the young man responded sharply. "Father, my ranking is under threat."

"Please, father, help me. Where is mother?"

"You... get out of here right now, or else I won't mind giving you the beating of your life," his father shouted, veins protruding on his forehead.

Right then, his mother's head popped out slowly right behind his father with a flushed cheek. She looked at her son with a slight frown on her face.

She wanted to berate her son but decided against it and let her husband handle it.

The young man saw the flushed cheek of his mother and realized he intruded on their privacy but was too panicked to care about all that.

He wanted to protest one more time, but the cold, piercing gaze from his father said it all. If he uttered another word, he would be beaten blue-black.

Left with no choice, he dragged his feet out of the courtyard with frustration and fear. The sudden rise of the anomaly was giving him fright and a headache.

He had tried many possible means to increase his votes, but everything was futile. If not for his good looks and sweet words, he wouldn't be in the third position.

Going back to his courtyard, he checked his ranking one more time. This time around, his legs failed to move, the gentle cold breeze became hot.

His heart pounded heavily against his chest. His world turned upside down, and then, he let out the signature shriek.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

He clutched his chest, fell on his knee, wailing in misery. Instantly, a lot of footsteps rushed toward his location.

"What happened to him?" his mother asked in panic.

One of the guards responded, "Young master has just lost his ranking."

Instantly, everyone held their breath, and the place descended into pin-drop silence. His parents looked at each other, wondering why their son would be so worked up over just some useless beauty ranking.

So they thought.

Surely, they are going to regret not helping their son this very night in the nearest future.

With only 20 minutes remaining until midnight, an electrifying atmosphere enveloped the night.

Sleep was a luxury no one could afford, as every individual with Spirit Comms anxiously awaited the unfolding events.

The air itself seemed to crackle with tension, drawing even the few indifferent souls into the vortex of anticipation.

The pulse of excitement reverberated through You Connect, a symphony of suspense that gripped the heart of every participant.

The sudden surge of the anomaly injected an unexpected thrill into the proceedings, turning what could have been a mundane countdown into a rollercoaster of emotions.

It was a bittersweet twist, with every rise of the anomaly intensifying the excitement and amplifying the tension.

As the clock ticked away, minds raced with curiosity and speculation.

Could this enigmatic force ascend beyond the second position, perhaps even dethroning the current champion at the top?

The Barren Land and Baiyun city, bathed in the glow of the moonlight, held its breath in collective anticipation, awaiting the climax of this drama.

"20 minutes. 20 minutes," a handsome young man muttered with trembling lips.

He was drenched in cold sweats, looking at the time as it ticked away so slowly. This should have been a night of joy and laughter, but it went the other way round.

"Elder brother, please relax, no one can take away your position," a girl not older than 12 said with an encouraging smile.

"Son, you just need to relax. There is no way he's going to catch up to you," a middle-aged woman said, staring at her worried son.

"I hope so…." He sighed, not having the heart to talk.

Previously, he was having the hope of dethroning the top ranker, but now, his second position was a massive threat.

His votes were diminishing at a rapid speed, which almost gave him a heart attack. He checked the profile of the newly arrived young man and was shocked by what he saw.

It was then he realized why his ranking was surging forward in such a short time. In some of the pictures and videos he posted, he showed his well-toned muscles, firm arms, and displayed terrifying sword moves.

Also, he was a zither player. He played sweet songs for his fans.

Apart from that, he had the strength to back up his handsomeness. He was only 28 years old and had broken through to a Foundation Building realm stage 1.

This was an overkill. Who among his counterparts was in their twenties and was in the Foundation Building realm?

With all this, he changed the tide of the ranking.

"Ten minutes left," he muttered with his face burning with hope.

He only needed to hold his position for the next ten minutes, and everything would be over. He looked at his mother and younger sister with a smile for the first time.

"Chu'er, when this is over, I'll treat you to the best food in the best restaurant in the inner city," he said proudly.

"Really!" His sister widened her eyes, full of happiness. She had been longing to visit the best restaurant at the center of the inner city, but their family didn't have the money to send her there.

But now, his brother was promising her. Her face lit up as she prayed in her heart for her brother to win.

Unfortunately for her, her prayer won't be heard tonight. Their mother checked the ranking, and her expression turned ugly immediately.

She looked at her son with a sad, conflicted expression on her face. She opened her mouth to speak but closed it. She wanted to tell her son what was happening but was scared of how he would react.

Finally, she hardened her heart. "Son, check the ranking one more time to be sure of your position."

The young man turned to his mother and knitted his brow. Why would his mother ask him to check his position when he was currently on the second spot?

Still, he decided to follow the instruction of his mother and check his ranking. Behold, the fireworks were let loose.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

He screamed and fell off from his seat.

Quickly, his mother rushed to his side to support him with a sad expression on her face. As for the little girl, tears streamed down from her cheek.

Her little hope was broken before it even began. She fell on her butt and wailed. What about the best food in the best restaurant?

Everything gone.

A seemingly harmless ranking had broken the heart of many. And perhaps, there was still a heart to be broken.

5 minutes left.