Dead?

"Updated?"

The eyes of one martial world figure after another lit up, and they stopped their pointless discussions.

Compared to their own knowledge, the Heaven's Secret Pavilion's information was undoubtedly more reliable.

Whoosh!

In perfect unison, countless gazes shifted in an instant, all fixing upon the "Human Ranking" hanging at the far right.

Human Ranking, First: Tian Qingchuan

Divine Fiend Gate's current prodigy; his ancestral aperture between the brows had already opened...

Just the first line made the martial world figures present furrow their brows, their faces full of confusion.

With their doubts in tow, everyone continued reading.

Human Ranking, Second: Qiao Jingxing

Human Ranking, Third: You Qi

They scanned the entire ranking, yet found no rankings for Han Shan, Li Qingshan, or Pang Yan.

"What's going on? Did Li Qingshan really die from self-detonation?"

"That can't be right. Even if Li Qingshan blew himself up and died, why aren't Han Shan and Pang Yan on the ranking either?"

"The introductions for Tian Qingchuan, Qiao Jingxing, and the other Human Ranking prodigies haven't changed. There's no mention of the 'Harmony Convergence Feast' either!"

"What exactly happened at the 'Harmony Convergence Feast'?"

Questions came one after another, leaving everyone utterly bewildered.

Just then, wild laughter rang out.

"Hahaha! Senior Brother Li deserves to be first on the Earth Ranking!"

Nearly a hundred figures descended from the sky, landing before the West Desert Inn.

The one who spoke was none other than the current "second on the Human Ranking," Qiao Jingxing!

Hearing this, the many martial world figures were all startled. Their gazes swiftly shifted to the ranking in the middle.

At once, everyone stood dumbstruck, frozen in shock.

At the very top of the "Earth Ranking," one name stood high above the rest.

Earth Ranking, First: Li Qingshan

At the same time,

Across the continent, in tens of thousands of cities,

Because the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings had changed once more, crowds gathered anew before inns throughout the lands.

At this moment, countless eyes were focused on the very top of the Earth Ranking.

Earth Ranking, First: Li Qingshan

Seven Stars Sect's current prodigy. Cultivates the Breaking Limits New Method, Nine Revolutions to Ascend the Heavens!

He has mastered the martial art "Wind Thunder Limitless," and possesses an ultimate Self-Detonation Technique capable of unleashing a hundredfold increase in combat power.

Furthermore, he is suspected of having cultivated "Endless Vitality" to its unprecedented tenth level, achieving the core principle: "The consciousness does not perish; the flesh does not perish."

Though Li Qingshan had yet to break through to the Inner Scene, no one beneath the Heavenly Rankings could withstand a single self-detonating strike from him!

With "Endless Vitality," he could recover in an instant, entirely unscathed!

Therefore, as an exception, he was promoted to the Earth Ranking!

"What? It's only been a few days, and Li Qingshan is already first on the Earth Ranking?"

The onlookers looked at one another, feeling as though a lifetime had passed.

"A Self-Detonation Technique? A hundredfold attack? And he can even return from the dead?"

"Did the Heaven's Secret Pavilion get it wrong? Since when did 'Endless Vitality' have a tenth level?"

Questions came one after another, and every face was filled with bewilderment.

There were still legends of Nine Revolutions to Ascend the Heavens, but the descriptions that followed had completely surpassed their understanding.

This was no longer a matter of whether it was legendary or not.

Even in ancient myths, they had never heard of such a "self-detonation fighting style"!

"Don't rush. Look below—the 'Harmony Convergence Feast' saw something huge happen."

"That's right. With so many Human Ranking prodigies present, the Heaven's Secret Pavilion couldn't possibly be talking through its hat!"

"Look! Li Qingshan's title has changed too!"

Cry after cry of alarm interrupted the others' shock and doubt. Countless gazes hurriedly swept downward.

Seven days ago, the 'Harmony Convergence Feast' was held as scheduled. However, Pang Yan had defected to an evil god, and the feast itself had been a conspiracy.

At the feast, Li Qingshan self-detonated repeatedly, killing "first on the Human Ranking" Han Shan, "thirty-fifth on the Earth Ranking" Nan Jianyang, as well as two other Inner World Grandmasters of the Lingtian Sect.

Afterward, he killed Pang Yan and smashed the conspiracy.

On his return journey, he encountered an ambush by Lingtian Sect Outer World Celestials Xiao Baohe, Shao Yue, and Ding Cheng, then escaped by self-detonating.

The smiling face of impermanence, Yama undying.

"Undying Yama," Li Qingshan!

"Pang Yan? An evil god? The 'Harmony Convergence Feast' was a conspiracy?"

One piece of news after another left everyone reeling in shock.

Yet what concerned them even more was Li Qingshan's methods.

"What a pity. The 'White-Haired Hidden Dragon' was ultimately still hooked away by Impermanence."

"Hehe, you can't call him 'Impermanence' now. That's Yama coming to claim lives!"

"That's right. Li Qingshan self-detonated again and again, slaughtering every Lingtian Sect member who attended the feast. Each self-detonation was like a funeral bell tolling, Yama coming to claim lives!"

"The consciousness does not perish; the flesh does not perish. Nor will the funeral bell cease!"

"Flesh and blood as the striker, tolling the funeral bell. Endless Vitality, its echoes never cease."

"The Heaven's Secret Pavilion's evaluation really wasn't wrong!"

"The Lingtian Sect sent out three Outer World Celestials and still failed to keep Li Qingshan. Xiao Baohe and Shao Yue are Sect Master Lin Haokun's junior brothers, but why does this 'Ding Cheng' sound unfamiliar?"

"Wait... that's not right! I just saw the name 'Ding Cheng'!"

Startled voices rose. The speaker's gaze shifted toward the side.

The people around him followed his gaze curiously.

At the end of their sight was the "Heavenly Rankings," which had never changed since its emergence into the world.

At this moment, a name had quietly appeared near the top of the Heavenly Rankings.

Heavenly Rankings, Eighth: Ding Cheng

Junior brother of Lingtian Sect's former sect master, Ren Fanyu. He was once severely wounded by Long Yeyun and feigned his death to retire into seclusion.

Several days ago, he returned to the martial world and failed in his ambush to kill Li Qingshan.

"Eighth on the Heavenly Rankings! He was ranked eighth on the Heavenly Rankings the moment he emerged!"

"So what if he's eighth on the Heavenly Rankings? He still couldn't keep Li Qingshan!"

Hearing this, everyone's gazes unconsciously shifted, once again looking toward the top of the "Earth Ranking."

"Undying Yama," Li Qingshan!

"Even Outer World Celestials are powerless against him. In this world, I fear no one can kill Li Qingshan anymore!"

"Undying Yama indeed lives up to his name!"

Amid cry after cry of amazement,

Some old hands of the martial world, however, looked hesitant. Frowning, they analyzed the matter.

"Something's wrong... something's wrong..."

"Both are among the 'Twin Sects,' yet the Lingtian Sect had always endured and yielded when facing the Seven Stars Sect."

"Back then, after Madman killed Lin Haokun's younger brother, he was still able to retreat safely."

"But this time, just to ambush and kill Li Qingshan, they even dispatched Ding Cheng, who had already faked his death."

"With such open hostility, the martial world will likely see waves rise again..."

In tens of thousands of cities, similar scenes played out before inn after inn.

The vast majority of martial world figures were engaged in heated discussions centered around "Li Qingshan."

A small number of old hands, meanwhile, were deeply worried about the coming "bloodbath and foul winds."

In the far eastern lands, towering mountains rose ten thousand zhang high, wreathed in drifting clouds and mist.

Above the clouds and mist, numerous peaks stood tall, pavilions and buildings spread everywhere, like an immortal realm.

Upon one solitary peak, a white-robed middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back before a grave.

The grave was built from ordinary bricks and stones, and only a few sparse words were engraved upon its tombstone.

Grave of younger brother Lin Hong

Erected by elder brother Lin Haokun

Suddenly, the clouds and mist surged, and sword light flashed.

A black-robed figure cut through the sky, descending from above. He landed on the ground and bowed with cupped hands.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

"Rise!"

Lin Haokun reached out to wipe the dust from the tombstone, then said with a faint smile,

"Since Senior Brother has already achieved Nine Revolutions to Ascend the Heavens, that little Madman should be dead too, shouldn't he?"