Storm Cloud Grandmaster, All Sides Shaken (Seeking Monthly Pass)

Azure Spirit Province, Azure Mist Sect.

Azure Mist Peak—this was where the Azure Mist Sect's Supreme Elders rested, the true center of power for the Azure Mist Sect.

"The Wind and Cloud Rankings have been updated? Which old monster's ranking changed!?"

Old Jian's face filled with surprise, curiosity faintly showing in his expression.

The Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings had not been updated for over three years. Its sudden update this time clearly meant that the rankings of the old monsters listed upon it had changed.

Old Jian's hair billowed like a mad lion's mane. With a wave of his hand, a crystalline screen appeared before him.

Old Jian swept his gaze over it, examining the changes to the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings.

According to past practice, the reason for every change to the rankings would be written at the very beginning.

"Seven Kill Fist Demon?"

Old Jian's expression froze, and he stood rooted to the spot.

It was not a change in rankings, but a newly promoted old monster forcefully ascending the list!

Azure Spirit Province, Nangong Family.

"Pursuit through the night sky, fighting fiercely across the heavens! Contending on equal terms with a Pseudo Celestial!?"

Amid a garden full of flowers, a blue-robed Elder sat quietly. Beneath the gleaming screen, his aged face was illuminated.

He could take the update to the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings in stride, but a Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster capable of contending on equal terms with a Pseudo Celestial made his expression shift, darkening and brightening uncertainly.

Unlike Pseudo Celestials, a Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster possessed limitless potential!

Theoretically speaking, every Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster possessed the qualifications to challenge the realm above Great Grandmaster. Quite a number of old monsters among them could ultimately ascend to the realm of Martial Dao Celestials, becoming true Martial Dao Celestials!

Setting aside factors such as lifespan, even in the worst-case scenario, they could leap up to become outstanding among Pseudo Celestials, possessing forty percent, or even fifty percent, of a true Celestial's combat power!

And an old monster who displayed such supreme might the instant he entered the rankings was someone even he had to treat with caution!

Given time, he might become another supreme figure capable of stirring the winds and clouds!

"Seven Kill Fist Demon!" The Elder's eyes were tranquil, yet countless thoughts surged through his mind!

From this day onward, there was one more person he needed to fear and deal with cautiously.

"The Wind and Cloud Rankings have been updated! The Seven Kill Fist Demon has entered the rankings, contending on equal terms with Cold Nail Qing Fan!?"

At Dragon Peace Stronghold, the commercial hub between two provinces, the top experts stationed within the stronghold also received news of the update to the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings.

Unlike the others, they made even more guesses about the old monster's identity.

"Origins unknown! Suspected to be a reclusive expert!"

"His conduct is both righteous and evil! He possesses traces of Heavenly Luo Sect techniques, has cultivated one of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect's sect-defending arts, and has comprehended three killing intents of the Seven Kill Heavenly Dipper Fist, seemingly cultivated to the major completion stage."

"Could the Seven Kill Heavenly Dipper Fist be connected to that expert who appeared in Dragon Peace not long ago!?"

"."

The newly reformed Dragon Peace Stronghold was filled with a new order and new atmosphere, but no matter who it was, the appearance of a Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster was enough to move them deeply and make them treat the matter with gravity.

A Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster!

Standing alone at the Great Grandmaster realm, truly walking at the peak of the Same Realm—combat strength and methods, cultivation arts and secret techniques, accumulated resources and spiritual treasures, external means—all had been built up to the utmost limit of the Same Realm.

Even Pseudo Celestials had to treat such figures with caution and utmost respect.

Let alone the fact that this newly updated Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster was ranked among the front—

Of the rankings!

"So it really was updated!" Within the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office, Cold Nail Qing Fan's expression shifted unpredictably, clouding and clearing by turns.

Ever since he began cultivating, he had hoped that One day, his name would appear on the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings.

But after breaking through beyond the Great Grandmaster realm and becoming a Pseudo Celestial, he knew that possibility no longer existed.

Yet he had never expected that his name would still appear on the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings—only, he had never expected it to be in such a manner.

Used as a supporting anecdote to highlight the strength of a newly promoted Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster!

With one Raging Wave Collapse punch, he had blasted back Cold Nail Qing Fan, a Pseudo Celestial renowned for many years.

Just a few sparse words had nailed his name to the pillar of shame.

Who would not wish to experience defying a higher realm in battle? But if you were the one being defeated across realms, only you yourself knew the bitterness of it.

Let alone the fact that this matter had been widely publicized. It was foreseeable that whenever he attended gatherings in various circles from now on, he would be thoroughly famous.

Cold Nail Qing Fan's emotions were a tangled mess.

The only thing worth being thankful for now was that the rankings did not mention Li Wusheng. It merely brushed past the matter in a few words, focusing on the detailed account of the night-sky battle and the corresponding analysis of combat power.

"Seven Kill Fist Demon!"

Cold Nail Qing Fan tilted his head slightly upward, an indescribable light shining from his deeply sunken eye sockets.

"Which old monster is this?"

"A Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster!"

"To drive Cold Nail Qing Fan back with a single punch—what kind of combat power is that?!"

"."

As the place where the Seven Kill Fist Demon, that old monster in gray robes, had appeared, the major forces within Azure Dragon Province City naturally received the updated Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings as well. This naturally included the foremost family of Azure Dragon Province, the Gu Family.

"His movement speed and secret techniques are in no way inferior to those of a Pseudo Celestial. Such abilities and methods..."

The many elders of the Gu Family sat together, using the intelligence they had obtained and the analysis on the Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings to determine the other party's true origins.

Compared to the other provinces, they were even more curious about the identity and background of this mysterious old monster.

"To force Venerable Qing Fan back head-on with one punch, and even withstand a strike from his secret technique—such strength and methods are objectively fair and reasonable for a place among the top twenty of Wind and Cloud!"

"If that punch had landed on this old man, whether I lived or died would have been hard to say!"

"Elder Hua's words..."

"."

The elders of the Gu Family discussed it among themselves. The Wang Family and Xue Family, two of the Azure Dragon Three Great Noble Families, were naturally no exception.

Unlike their discussion of Reckless Saber Chen Ping'an, the two great families had both elders and clan elders present, seriously studying the other party's strength and methods.

At the same time, the foundation-level powerhouses within the two great families also developed a trace of wariness toward him.

Compared to the Gu Family's peace and security, the two great families remained extremely vigilant and fearful over the earlier assassination attempt in Azure Dragon Province City.

Without an absolute powerhouse of a sufficient level standing guard, the Azure Dragon assassination incident had ultimately cast a shadow of worry over their hearts.

However, the reason the two great families could be ranked alongside the Gu Family was naturally not merely due to a balance of power and influence.

Each family possessed far more than one foundation-level powerhouse.

As for exactly how many they had, that was unknown to the outside world!

With a certain degree of strategic deterrence already in place, concealing information could also be considered a means of enhancing one's strategic deterrence.

"Mother, I'm back."

A sweet and lively voice sounded from beyond the fence surrounding the wooden house and thatched cottage.

"Ying Er is back." A stooped, gray-haired old woman emerged from the wooden house. Her voice was hoarse, but her face bore a kind smile.

"Mother!"

The girl outside the fence quickly ran in. Her skin was fair, and her eyes bright and lively.

"Mother, look at the good things I got this time."

The girl presented a pile of items as though offering treasures, placing them before the old woman.

"Good! Good! Good!" the old woman said with a smile, uttering the word three times in a row.

"Now the poisonous substances needed for the Jade Toad Bone Erosion Palm are finally all gathered."

Seeing the old woman smile, the girl smiled as well.

"Ying Er, although you have enough poisonous substances for cultivation, you've only just broken through. Don't rush to cultivate yet. Wait until you've stabilized the Crimson Scorpion poison of the Crimson Scorpion Heart Burning Palm before cultivating the Jade Toad Bone Erosion Palm," the old woman instructed.

"Mhm." The girl nodded, her brows and eyes curving into crescents. "Oh, right, Mother. This time, when I went to Mystic Spirit Major City, guess what I heard?"

"What?" the old woman asked indifferently.

The girl gave a soft laugh and raised her fair wrist. A bell tinkled, and a light screen appeared before them.

"The Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings!"

The old woman's gaze sharpened as she saw the large words on the light screen.

After three years, the Great Qian Wind and Cloud Rankings had been updated!

Azure Cang Prince Manor, rear garden. The rock formations were exquisite, spring water murmured, and wisps of mist drifted into view.

"Uncle Yi, I want to go outside."

Within the pavilion, the girl wrinkled her jade nose. Her delicate, flawless face looked soft enough to break at a breath, and her apricot yellow dress made her bright and radiant.

Before the girl stood an elder with a high hat and a collapsed nose, a kind smile on his face.

At her words, the elder's heart tightened. He cautiously asked, "County Princess, where would you like to go?"

"Anywhere is fine, as long as it's not here!" The girl pouted. "I'm bored to death."

"Then shall we go to Bicang City and visit the flower market?" the elder carefully suggested.

"Don't! Every time I say I want to go out, you always suggest that place. This time, I want to go somewhere farther away."

The elder's mouth twitched as he continued, "Then how about Rosy Cloud City, to watch the sunset?"

"I'm not going! I've already seen it twice. I'm sick of it." The girl pursed her pink lips in displeasure.

Just as expected!

That "anywhere is fine" business was all a lie.

The elder's lips moved slightly. He wanted to make another suggestion, but in the end, he did not speak.

"County Princess, then where do you wish to go?"

"Come on, Uncle Yi, didn't I say so? Anywhere is fine, just not these few places!" As she spoke, the girl's yellow dress fluttered, carrying a delicate fragrance like clear lotus.

The old man stood before the girl and suggested several more places in succession, only for her to reject them one by one.

"Princess, spare this old servant! Wherever you say we go, we'll go!" the old man said with a miserable face. His already sunken nose seemed to sink even deeper.

At that, the girl's pretty eyes spun, a sly glint flashing through them. "I want to go outside the province and have a look!"

"Ah!" The old man's expression changed, and he immediately tried to persuade her. "Princess, Little Princess, my little lady, outside the province is out of the question. There are countless powerful people out there, and it's exceedingly dangerous. It isn't within the territory directly controlled by our Prince Manor. If anything truly happened to you, this old servant couldn't atone for it even with a hundred deaths!"

The old man rambled on and on, but the girl cut him off with a stern face.

"Fine! Then I won't go. You think of somewhere for me to have fun instead."

"Ah!" The old man froze, his face changing drastically in an instant. He said bitterly, "Princess..."

"I don't care! I already said it—if Uncle Yi doesn't agree, then you pick the place!" The girl pursed her lips and said indignantly.

After several rounds of trying, the old man finally admitted defeat.

"Fine! Then we'll go outside the province." Gritting his teeth, the old man agreed.

The girl's displeasure vanished, and her lips curled upward into a radiant smile.

"Hehe, Uncle Yi, you're the best!"

The old man looked helplessly at the radiant girl before him. He truly could not summon even the slightest anger.

"What a little ancestor!"

Having gotten her wish, the girl was in high spirits. After settling on a time with the old man, she said she would go report it to her father—and tell him that Uncle Yi had already agreed.

The old man's mouth twitched. He wanted to stop her, but seeing the delighted smile on her face, he ultimately could not bring himself to do so.

Not long after the girl left, a figure hurried over with frantic steps.

"Elder Yi!" The newcomer lowered his head and bowed, incomparably respectful.

"What is it?" The smile on the old man's face gradually faded, and even the kindness in his expression seemed to thin somewhat.

"The latest news: the Great Qian Wind and Cloud Rankings have been updated."

The old man's expression did not change. "Did the rankings shift, or has someone entered the list?"

"Someone entered the list. The newly promoted Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster, the Seven Kill Fist Demon, launched an attack in Azure Dragon, fought and pursued the Great Vassal of the Azure Dragon Province Town Pacification Office, and during the pursuit drove back a Pseudo Celestial who was chasing him. Upon entering the rankings, he was placed eighteenth on the Wind and Cloud Rankings." The newcomer reported in detail with a grave expression.

"Eighteenth on the Wind and Cloud Rankings?"

A trace of surprise flickered across the old man's face, but it quickly vanished. He waved his hand and said lightly, "Understood. You may leave."

"Yes, Elder Yi." The newcomer respectfully acknowledged the order and turned to depart, but before he had taken more than a few steps, the old man called him back.

"Oh, right. The Princess will be going out for a while, and it won't be a short trip. Make preparations in advance. Arrange for two First-Class Guest Officials to accompany her. As for the rest, use your judgment." The old man instructed calmly, "Remember, don't make too big a spectacle of it."

"Yes." The newcomer respectfully accepted the order.

After confirming that Elder Yi had no further instructions, he bowed and departed.

The old man stood in the pavilion, watching the Spirit Spring water flow through the courtyard.

"Eighteenth in the Wind and Cloud Rankings? Interesting."

The old man smiled and shook his head, no longer dwelling on it.

He had stayed out of worldly affairs for a long time. Let the others in the manor worry about all those tangled disturbances.

"A mysterious old monster? The Seven Kill Fist Demon? Could he be recruited?"

As one of the representatives of the Azure Cang Prince Manor's factions with real power, Qingmu Fuzheng had naturally received news of the updated Wind and Cloud Grandmaster Rankings as well.

At his current standing, an ordinary Pseudo Celestial was no longer worth his full attention. But a Storm Cloud Great Grandmaster was different!

The former had reached the end of their path. No matter how much they were cultivated, they could at most gain a bit more combat power. The latter, however, possessed limitless potential. So long as they were not nearing the end of their lifespan, with resources and external cultivation aids, even in the worst-case scenario they would become a formidable Pseudo Celestial.

Those with even greater potential might achieve Unity of Heaven and Man, becoming a true Martial Dao Celestial!

When that time came, even for the Azure Cang Prince Manor, it would be an exceedingly rare and valuable boon.

As powerful as the Azure Cang Prince Manor was, it possessed bloodline-granted fiefs, its influence radiating across seventeen surrounding commanderies and touching every facet of life. Yet the weight of a Martial Dao Celestial was equally no small matter.

It was such a weighty matter that even representatives of powerful factions like them could not treat it lightly. They had to be cautious beyond caution.

Only those close to that realm could fully understand the true value of a Martial Dao Celestial.

Even across the Vast Northern Territory, a Martial Dao Celestial was a presence not to be taken lightly.

The reason the Azure Cang Prince Manor's influence had been Delayed in reaching Azure Dragon Province City lay at its core in that person from the Gu family!

The Gu Family Ancestor, the Clear Wind Bright Moon Sword!

With the power of one man, he had kept the Azure Cang Prince Manor's influence shut outside.

The might of a Martial Dao Celestial was plain to see.

But now things were different. The Clear Wind Bright Moon Sword had lived for over nine hundred years. He had also suffered grave injuries in his youth, with hidden wounds that never ceased. Given his condition, even if he had taken some lifespan-extending secret medicine or heaven-and-earth longevity fruit, he should be nearing the end of his lifespan by now.

But just how many years he had left to live as he neared that limit, and how much of his peak combat power remained, was impossible to know.

Their repeated probes before this had been precisely to uncover his bottom line and test the true measure of his strength.

From the looks of it now, that person's condition might be far worse than imagined.

Otherwise, given what they had done before, with that person's temper back then, he would probably have already come charging over with sword in hand to demand an explanation.

Azure Cang Prince Manor or not, if you want to interfere in Azure Dragon Province's affairs, first ask the sword in my hand!

At his peak, that person had not been considered weak even among Martial Dao Celestials.

Even though Azure Cang Prince Manor was home to countless experts, there truly were not many who could withstand his sharp edge. Even if several joined forces, it would be the same!

But now, all was well. His strength had declined even more severely than expected—so severely that he could barely keep up the pretense anymore.

Excellent. Then there would no longer be any suspense over the expansion of their influence.

The only thing required was time!

Given the Gu Family's current power, the only one they needed to watch out for was the Previous Generation's Heavenly Talent, Gu Qingchan.

Her breakthrough speed from the Jade Balance Middle Stage to the Jade Balance Late Stage was so fast it left people tongue-tied, and she was hailed as having the bearing of a Queen.

However—

A trace of a smile surfaced on Qingmu Fuzheng's rosy, flawless face.

No matter how quickly she broke through, she ultimately could not compare to the irresistible tide of their annexation.

Between the Jade Balance Late Stage and the Martial Dao Celestial realm lay far more than a slight gap.

From engraving spirit patterns, condensing patterns into brilliance, nurturing the divine soul, and breaking through the Shell Stage—there were countless major and minor bottlenecks. Every single one required an immense amount of time.

Even without too many snags, it would still take at least several decades.

Even judging Gu Qingchan by the most ideal conditions, she would need half a century.

And half a century was already enough for them to accomplish many things!

Even taking a step back, the great tide could not be defied. A newly promoted Martial Dao Celestial might not necessarily be able to stop this vast, surging current!

The prince was gravely ill, and the Succession War was at hand. Who did not want to get a foot in the door?

Whether it was building connections above and opening up channels, or putting down roots below and accumulating foundations, results had to be produced.

Factional struggles were fierce, and the internal competition was severe. Yet while forces like theirs competed internally, were they not also influencing the greater situation around them?

Under the great tide, who could remain untouched?

When a throne was involved, who would show mercy?

If you were not my ally, then you were my opponent!

Those who blocked me would die!

As for watching from the sidelines?

Without the deterrence of strength, it was nothing but a dead end!

Fence-sitters and the like died the fastest when the great tide came crashing down!

And that was the fundamental reason why Azure Dragon's two great families had understood it so quickly.

Without a Martial Dao Celestial holding the fort, what were they playing at, watching from the sidelines? Were they afraid they would not die fast enough?

Though the Gu Family could remain aloof, judging from the current situation, they probably—

Would not be able to remain aloof for much longer.

The corners of Qingmu Fuzheng's lips curled slightly, revealing a smile whose meaning was hard to fathom.

"The Wind and Cloud Rankings have been updated?"

A handsome young man in white stood in a training ground strewn with barren rocks.

The young man carried himself with graceful ease, his gentle smile radiating a peculiar charm from within.

"Has some old monster made the rankings?" the young man said casually.

Not far from him stood a woman in dark teal robes, her features cold and beautiful, carrying a faint air of pride.

After receiving the woman's affirmative reply, a strange color appeared on the young man's face.

Whenever the Wind and Cloud Rankings were updated, direct changes in personnel were not common at all!

"Tell me the details."

"Yes, Young Master. The Seven Kill Fist Demon fought at night in Azure Dragon Province City and repelled Cold Nail Qing Fan of Azure Dragon Province with a single punch. Upon entering the rankings, he was placed eighteenth on the Wind and Cloud Rankings." The woman's expression remained icy as she reported the changes to the rankings.

"Eighteenth?" The young man froze, and the strange color on his face deepened.

"Ning'er, if I remember correctly, in the past seventy-odd years, no one has entered the rankings and directly surged to such a high position, have they?"

"That is correct. The most recent record for a first-time ranking was set by Heaven Sword Pavilion's Grand Void Sword Son. Upon first entering the rankings, he was placed twenty-third on the Wind and Cloud Rankings. Later, when he entered again, he was ranked eleventh."

The woman spoke calmly.

The young man listened attentively. Only after she had finished did he smile gently at her. "Ning'er has such a good memory."

Facing the young man's praise, the woman said nothing, though a subtle change appeared between her brows and eyes.

No amount of praise from others could stir even the faintest ripple in her heart. But the Young Master's praise.

The woman stood quietly. Beneath sleeves embroidered with dark patterns, she concealed a poison-coated short blade. An exotic gemstone set into her hairpin gleamed with an uncanny luster beneath the sunlight. Within those ripples, it seemed capable of making people's livers and gallbladders split as their minds shattered.

"All right, it's time to go back."

After standing there for a while, the young man spoke with a gentle smile.

"Yes, Young Master." The woman's features were icy and beautiful as she answered respectfully.

The young man turned and left, but after taking only a few steps, he stopped.

The woman immediately halted behind him. The distance between them was exact, without the slightest deviation.

"By the way, is there any news about Reckless Saber lately?"

"Miss Liang went to Canglong to recruit Reckless Saber. No news has come back yet," the woman replied.

"No news? Then that's good." The young man smiled. "No news is the best news. Otherwise, if Reckless Saber is recruited, even if I wanted revenge, I'd have no way to take it!"

The young man's smile was warm, yet a trace of icy chill flashed through his eyes.

"Young Master, Duke Fu personally advised us to recruit Reckless Saber," the woman said calmly, stating an objective fact. "For such a heaven-born prodigy to enter Azure Cang Prince Manor would benefit the greater situation."

"Yes! There's no denying that Reckless Saber truly is a talent. Not yet twenty-six, and already ranked among the Top Grandmasters, but..." The young man's tone shifted, carrying the coldness of frozen iron.

"As a man living in this world, how could I not avenge the hatred of having my wife taken from me!?"

The young man's aura gradually rose until it erupted completely.

Boom!

His aura ran wild, shaking the space around him and sending ring after ring of ripples spreading outward.

Azure Prince, Ji Changkong.

Ten days ago, he had entered the Jade Balance Late Stage and attained the realm of a Martial Dao Great Grandmaster!

His killing techniques alone were enough to stand comparable to Top Great Grandmasters.

If he were further bolstered by secret arts and divine weapons, then beneath the Peak Great Grandmaster realm, he would have virtually no opponents!

The woman stood to one side, watching the man amid the trembling space, silent.