The Heavenly Ranking Descends! Storms Rise!

Balak Kingdom border,

A desolate canyon.

The blazing sun hung high overhead, baking the bizarre stones within the canyon until they were scorching hot.

This place was so remote that even ghosts would not come here, yet someone had chosen to settle here.

"Damn weather..."

Lin Jiang leisurely swung his hoe, loosening the soil in the courtyard.

He looked to be in his early twenties. Though handsome, he was dressed very plainly.

Yet who could have imagined that this seemingly ordinary young man had been lying low on this continent for one hundred and twenty-five years!

When he was six, he awakened a Martial Soul called the Hand of Creation and bound himself to the King System.

From then on, he could summon one King Hero every year.

As long as a summoned hero broke through a Soul Power bottleneck, he would receive feedback.

Using this cheat, he secretly established the King's Hall,

yet chose to live in seclusion in this godforsaken place, focused solely on lying low until he achieved Hundred Level Godhood.

Now, his Soul Power had reached Level 99. He was only one step away from becoming a god.

"Whew... Almost there. I'll become a god soon."

Lin Jiang wiped away his sweat, delight filling his thoughts.

Once he became a god, he would keep lying low and leveling up. He absolutely would not get involved in any of that mess.

However, just then—

Rumble!

Dark clouds suddenly blanketed the sky, and thunder roared!

A terrifying pressure enveloped the entire continent!

[The Heavenly Ranking has descended!]

[This ranking is the Faction Ranking!]

[Only the continent's foremost factions may be listed!]

[Those ranked in the top ten shall receive generous rewards; those entering the top three shall be granted Divine Artifacts!]

A majestic voice, as though it had come from ancient times, resounded across the entire continent!

"Holy shit?!"

Lin Jiang's hand trembled, and he nearly dropped his hoe.

He abruptly looked up at the enormous Golden Ranking in the sky, his heart sinking.

Wasn't this just asking for trouble?

He had painstakingly laid low for over a hundred years and was just about to become a god, yet the Heavenly Dao had pulled this stunt?

Wasn't this throwing him straight into a fire pit?!

If the King's Hall appeared on that ranking, how was he supposed to keep lying low?

"Heavenly Dao, are you screwing with me..." Lin Jiang gritted his teeth.

Meanwhile, Spirit City had already descended into chaos.

"Move, move! Let me see what this thing is!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan darted onto the city wall, pointing at the Golden Ranking in the sky with a dainty raised finger.

Ghost Douluo Gui Mei wore a gloomy expression.

"Who dares cause trouble in Spirit Hall?"

"Watch this!" Yue Guan cried sharply as he leaped into the air.

"Sixth Soul Skill, Golden Stamen Flowing Rosy Clouds!"

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum bloomed in his hand. Countless petals transformed into a rain of golden meteors and blasted toward the Heavenly Ranking!

Yet the moment those immensely powerful petals approached the Heavenly Ranking,

they vanished without a trace, like mud cows sinking into the sea.

"What?!" Yue Guan stared in utter disbelief.

"Old Ghost, there's something strange about this thing!"

Gui Mei snorted coldly.

"Let me! Fourth Soul Skill: Ghost Shadow!"

Countless ghostly shadows poured from his palms and lunged at the Heavenly Ranking, only to be silently devoured as well.

The two stared at each other.

"Quick, report this to Pope Your Excellency!"

Inside the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong reclined lazily upon her throne,

her exquisite face carrying a hint of impatience.

"So what you're saying is that this Heavenly Ranking absorbed both of your attacks?"

Yue Guan and Gui Mei dropped to one knee. "Yes, Your Excellency."

Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes, calculating swiftly.

The Heavenly Ranking had appeared strangely, but...

If it was real, then with Spirit Hall's strength, they would certainly rank first!

The Upper Three Sects and the two great empires would all have to step aside!

Meanwhile, far away in the canyon, Lin Jiang stared at the ranking in the sky, his brow deeply furrowed.

"This is going to be a huge problem..."

He knew that his one hundred and twenty-five years of idle life were likely coming to an end.

Deep within Spirit City's Worship Hall.

The enormous statue of the Six-winged Angel bathed in Holy Light streaming down from the dome, solemn and majestic.

Grand Enshriner Qian Daoliu stood silently before the statue. His snow-white hair fell like a silver waterfall, and his plain white robes remained immaculate.

He gazed at the Golden Heavenly Ranking outside the hall, stretching across the heavens and radiating endless majesty.

In eyes as deep as the starry sky, a barely perceptible ripple passed through them for the first time.

It was neither shock nor fear, but an almost reverent desire to seek the truth.

"The Heavenly Dao has manifested, and the ranking has descended... Is this a divine miracle?"

His deep voice echoed through the vast hall as his gaze seemed to pierce through layer after layer of void, falling upon that unseen existence.

"Angel God... Is this phenomenon sweeping across the continent a revelation bestowed by you?"

Only the Holy Light flowed within the hall. The statue remained silent.

Qian Daoliu slowly closed his eyes. The faint sacred aura around him subtly resonated with the Heavenly Ranking's resplendent heavenly might.

Heaven Dou Empire, the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.

Candlelight filled the hall, illuminating Xue Qinghe's gentle and handsome face.

He set down the government documents in his hand and looked toward the Golden Ranking spanning the night sky outside the window, radiating resplendent heavenly might. His brows drew together almost imperceptibly.

"Elders, what are your thoughts on this heavenly phenomenon?"

His voice was calm, betraying little emotion, but his gaze had already shifted toward the two men standing quietly below.

Both stood tall and straight, their auras restrained yet formidable.

One had eyes as sharp as a serpent's, and he was Snake Lance Douluo She Long.

The other was somewhat plump, yet exuded a heavy aura that made one's heart tremble. He was Porcupinefish Douluo Ci Xue.

Ci Xue was the first to speak in a muffled voice, his tone carrying disdain and vigilance.

"Your Highness, in this subordinate's view, it is some unknown fiend's deception, meant to confuse and mystify!"

She Long slowly shook his head, his expression grave.

"Ci Xue, do not jump to conclusions. How could an ordinary Soul Master, or even a sect, fabricate such a phenomenon that covers the entire continent and carries pressure as oppressive as a prison?"

"In my view... it is likely real! Perhaps there truly are existences or powers in this world beyond our understanding."

Listening to the vastly different judgments of the two Titled Douluo, Xue Qinghe half narrowed his eyes, his slender fingers lightly tapping the desk.

"The Heavenly Ranking has appeared, stirring the winds and clouds..."

He murmured softly, and an imperceptible depth entered his voice.

"I wonder what impact this sudden variable will have on the plan we have prepared for so many years..."

At that moment, the sharp and urgent voice of an inner court eunuch suddenly rang out from outside, shattering the hall's silence.

"His Majesty has decreed—His Highness the Crown Prince is urgently summoned to the palace for discussion!"

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, within the magnificent main hall.

Sect Master Ning Fengzhi held a scepter, his brows tightly furrowed.

Across from him, Bone Douluo Gu Rong stood with his arms folded, his rugged face equally grave.

Whoosh—

A sharp flash of sword light streaked past!

Sword Douluo Chen Xin drifted down to the ground, his robes fluttering as he brought back an unquestionable piece of news.

"That Heavenly Ranking is real."

He had just gone outside and used his Martial Soul, the Seven Killing Sword, to unleash a sword strike with all his strength.

Yet that sword qi, powerful enough to split mountains and sever rivers,

was completely absorbed the instant it neared the Heavenly Ranking, like a stone sinking into the sea without even stirring a ripple.

On this continent, those capable of receiving his full-force attack so effortlessly

were likely limited to the unfathomable Qian Daoliu—and this bizarre Heavenly Ranking.