Li Xiuchang gained a rough understanding of the Preaching Ranking and felt that it was essentially a cultivation-world version of an online Q&A platform. Everyone wore a mask and dared to speak their minds without any worries about the consequences.
But...
"Can't anyone really see through the true identities behind everyone's titles? Since the Preaching Ranking is an immortal-artifact-grade treasure, it should belong to someone, right? Could it be that even the owner of the Preaching Ranking can't do it?"
"There's no need to worry about that." Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi smiled. "Actually, the Preaching Ranking wasn't as lively as it is now. It all began several thousand years ago, when the Grand Elder of the Immortal Dust Sect lost the key to the Preaching Ranking."
"The Preaching Ranking has a key?"
"Yes. This Confucian Treasure is extremely special. It cannot recognize a master; only one key can control it. Back when the key was still around, everyone was somewhat restrained when speaking on the Preaching Ranking. But after they learned that the key had been lost, the Preaching Ranking became dozens of times livelier within just a few days. Everyone's comments grew bolder and bolder, and the Experience and Insights they shared became increasingly bizarre..."
At this point, Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi could not help curling the corners of his lips into a smile.
"In short, hearing more about it isn't as useful as experiencing it yourself. If Junior Brother is interested, you might as well disguise yourself and take a look in person."
"I can recommend several seniors on the ranking. They're all powerful cultivators skilled at creating Cultivation Techniques and Secret Arts. Junior Brother can ask them for help and try your luck."
Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi took out paper and brush, wrote down more than ten titles, and handed them to Li Xiuchang.
Li Xiuchang looked at the titles: "I Sell Roast Duck in the Sect," "This Daoist is Not Wordy," "Wicked Disciple Reverses Heavenly Dipper," "Domineering Arrogant Heaven"...
What were these supposed to be?
Was Senior Brother Zhang sure he had not just scribbled them at random?
Li Xiuchang put away the note, nodded his thanks, and prepared to make a trip to the Preaching Ranking.
After sending off the three senior brothers, Li Xiuchang changed his hairstyle and put on several more layers of clothing, making himself look somewhat bloated. Only then did he pilot his flying boat toward the Preaching Ranking.
He barely knew anyone in the Immortal Dust Sect, so the chances of being recognized were extremely low.
Li Xiuchang had not expected to find a suitable technique for concealing his Cultivation Level on this trip. However, he was quite curious about the Preaching Ranking and mainly wanted to experience its wonders himself, to see whether it could help with the growth of his length.
As for seeking a technique to conceal his Cultivation Level, that was merely incidental.
No sooner had Li Xiuchang left the Eastern Geng District than Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi and Mo Tu stormed into Eastern Geng District Number Thirty-Two.
The two easily broke through the Courtyard Protection Array. Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi shouted, "Chen the Turtle!"
No one answered.
"Stop pretending to be dead, you old turtle..."
The two barged straight into the house and pushed open the door to the cultivation room on the first floor. Inside sat a handsome young man with an otherworldly bearing, cross-legged on a meditation cushion. His eyes were gently closed, and he remained utterly motionless, steady as a pine or cypress. His body carried the detached air of someone who had weathered the vicissitudes of time and washed away all worldly splendor.
Mo Tu swept his gaze over him and said flatly, "A clone."
"You old bastard, you're really good at hiding." Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi grabbed the young man before him, lifted him up, and shook him. "Come out quickly! We need you for something!"
The young man, identified as a clone, slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was as still as an ancient well, and his tone held not the slightest ripple. "It's the same whether you tell me or my true body."
"We've known each other for several thousand years, yet it's so hard to see you? This can't be explained in just a few words. Get your true body out here at once. Come to think of it, we haven't gathered together in over a century. Let's have a drink today."
"If everyone isn't here, then there's no need to gather. Just say what you came for. Unlike several fellow Daoists, whose gifts are peerless, this Daoist cannot bear to waste even a moment and delay his cultivation."
Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi curled his lip. He did not waste any more words on this clone. After a few steps, he went upstairs and headed straight for a metal cage.
The metal cage was pitch-black all over, gleaming with a cold light and clearly quite extraordinary. Layer upon layer of arrays had also been arranged around it, protecting the cage within and without.
Locked inside the cage was a tiny turtle the size of a palm.
The instant the little turtle saw Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi, its mung-bean-sized eyes suddenly burst with brilliant light, and it became incomparably agitated.
It shook its head and waved its brain as if trying to say something, yet seemed unable to utter a word. Even its Spiritual Sense transmission had been cut off by the arrays, and a pleading look surfaced in its eyes.
Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi curled his lips. "Old turtle, if you don't come out, I'm going to break the array."
The moment his voice fell, a figure appeared out of thin air in the corner. With a sigh, he said, "Why must you do this?"
Looking at Chen Changsheng, who had appeared in the corner, Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi did not answer. Instead, he turned his head toward Mo Tu and asked, "Real or fake?"
Mo Tu carefully examined Chen Changsheng, then nodded.
Chen Changsheng gave a bitter smile. "Do the two of you truly distrust me this much?"
"That's right, we do... Come with us to the Preaching Ranking. I'll explain what we're doing on the way."
Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi tossed down the substitute in his hand and pulled Chen Changsheng along, preparing to leave.
Mo Tu, however, stopped Chen Changsheng. Suspicion showed in his eyes as he looked back and forth between the two Chen Changshengs.
Seeing this, Chen Changsheng shook his head. "I still couldn't fool Fellow Daoist Mo. I added the 'Anti-Mo Tu, Anti-Divination Technique' to this substitute technique, yet you still saw through the flaw. Can you tell me how you noticed?"
"What do you mean? This one is a substitute too?" Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi looked at Chen Changsheng in astonishment.
Yet another Chen Changsheng appeared in the corner and said with a sheepish smile, "Please don't take offense, Fellow Daoist. I was merely testing this new spell of mine."
Mo Tu gave a cold laugh. "Stop pretending. This is the true body."
He pointed at the first Chen Changsheng, the one they had initially identified as an obvious fake.
The expressions on all three Chen Changshengs froze in unison. Then they sighed. "Fellow Daoist Mo has an excellent eye. It seems this clone technique of mine still needs improvement."
With that, the three Chen Changshengs merged into one.
Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi cursed, "You're a turtle with too many heads. No one can tell which of the heads you stick out is real and which is fake. Only Old Mo can deal with you."
Chen Changsheng was not offended in the slightest. He smiled and said, "Let's go. That young friend has probably already reached the Preaching Ranking."
"You already knew?" Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi asked in surprise.
"A gentleman does not stand beneath a wall in danger. Although I cultivate in seclusion for long periods, I still have to observe the outside world from time to time to ensure that it remains safe."
"This is the Preaching Ranking?"
Li Xiuchang stared at the magnificent wall before him. The wall itself was white, but a huge painting had been drawn across it.
In one corner of the painting was a lifelike ink-wash scene. It depicted a streetside setting where an old Confucian-robed man held a scroll and lectured. Gathered before him were all sorts of people: tottering children, street beggars, half-blind old women, white-haired elders, peddlers and laborers, as well as the top scholar from the imperial examination and scions of the imperial clan...
Li Xiuchang stared at the painting, and before he knew it, his mind sank into it. It was as though the old man's lecture echoed beside his ears, every word a pearl, making him feel as if he had attained some insight—yet he had no idea what exactly he had realized.
He had realized absolutely nothing.
All he felt was a prickling scalp, as though his brain were about to grow.
Li Xiuchang stood dazed for a long while before coming back to himself. He hurriedly shifted his gaze away, feeling that the painting was downright sinister. Just one glance had cost him several minutes of his life.
At the very center of the painting, two ranking lists had been written in vigorous, forceful characters, one on the left and one on the right.
The left one was the "Grand Preaching Ranking," and the right one was the "Annual Preaching Ranking."
Both ranking lists recorded only the top ten.
Li Xiuchang stared at the titles on the rankings and immediately fell into a stupor.
He finally confirmed that the titles Senior Brother Zhang Wanzhi had given him truly had not been scribbled at random. In fact, those titles could even be considered conservative.
Before you continue