Tremors Across the Land, Undercurrents Stirring!

(The Stunning Qian Renxue)

Ning Fengzhi gripped his scepter, a lingering gravity shadowing his refined face.

"If this ranking can truly reflect the continent's balance of power... then the rewards bestowed by the heavens may cause Spirit Hall, already at the height of its power, to grow even stronger!"

Beside him, Bone Douluo Gu Rong folded his arms and let out a deep snort. His voice boomed like a great bell, brimming with dominance.

"Fengzhi, why bolster others' confidence? By my reckoning, no matter how they rank us, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect should have no problem squeezing into the top three of the Heavenly Ranking!"

He stepped forward, powerful Soul Power rippling faintly around him as he spoke with absolute confidence.

"At the Titled Douluo level, we only have Old Sword and me. But when it comes to the backbone of Soul Saints and Soul Emperors, aside from that monster den called Spirit Hall, who on the entire continent dares claim they have more than our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?!"

He paused, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.

"If we truly obtain a Divine Artifact bestowed by the Heavenly Ranking... then, by joining forces with other powers on the list that are dissatisfied with Spirit Hall, we may not be unable to wrestle with them!"

Chen Xin softened his tone as well and advised, "Fengzhi, what's done is done. There's no use overthinking it."

"Let's wait and see how this Heavenly Ranking arranges its positions first."

Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down before finally nodding.

"...Uncle Sword is right. All we can do now is wait."

Meanwhile, deep within the Star Luo Empire, in the Great Wilderness of the Far West.

Several figures stood out sharply amid this desolate Land of Deathly Silence, where scarcely a soul ever set foot.

The man at their head wore luxurious, ornate robes. The gold-thread embroidery seemed utterly out of place against the surrounding wasteland.

He toyed with a warm jade pendant in his hand and looked up at the enormous golden ranking in the sky, raising a brow.

"The Heavenly Ranking? Making such a huge commotion... could this be the Venerable One's handiwork?"

At his side, a valiant woman dressed in tight motorcycle gear sat astride a jet ski. She adjusted her goggles with one hand, her neat short hair fluttering lightly in the wind, then gave a derisive laugh.

"With the Venerable One's temperament? He hates trouble and only likes fishing. Would he make something this ostentatious? I doubt it."

Another woman possessed an elegant, tranquil bearing and held a longbow glowing with a faint, flowing light.

Hearing this, she gently shook her head. Her voice was mild, yet carried an unquestionable firmness.

"No matter where this ranking came from, it has nothing to do with our current mission. Our foremost priority is completing the task entrusted to us by the Venerable One."

"Mm!" A little boy in green nodded forcefully, his large eyes filled with seriousness as he briefly echoed her.

The finely dressed man, Fei, merely shrugged. He tossed the jade pendant high into the air, caught it, and drawled lazily, "All right, all right~ I'll listen to you. Goya, Jialuo, and little Sang Qi, you call the shots."

The biker girl called Goya gave a huff, Jialuo answered with a gentle smile, and Sang Qi nodded vigorously once more.

The four of them continued through the scorching sea of sand as they talked.

Yet, if anyone looked closely, they would be astonished to discover that beside their string of clear footprints,

there was another nearly imperceptible trail, as though an entirely transparent being were silently walking alongside them.

This was the Alliance of Cloud Sand squad, dispatched by Lin Jiang to the far western reaches of the continent on a special mission!

Meanwhile, in Lin Jiang's small courtyard within King's Hall.

Lin Jiang looked at the dazzling, grandiose Heavenly Ranking hanging in the sky, and the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

"Damn it, I knew this wouldn't be anything good..."

He had painstakingly kept a low profile for over a hundred years, and just as he was about to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel,

the Heavenly Dao had gone and arranged this "continent-wide live broadcast"?

Wasn't this putting him over a fire to roast?

He could practically foresee how many greedy, prying eyes King's Hall would draw once its name appeared on the ranking.

"Why is it so hard to become a god in peace..."

Just then, a fragrant breeze drifted over.

"Venerable One, your tea is ready."

A graceful figure appeared silently at his side.

Golden hair, softly twitching fox ears,

and a fitted yellow cheongsam, with black stockings outlining her flawless legs.

It was Daji, a level 92 Nine-tailed Douluo and his personal secretary.

"Mm."

Lin Jiang accepted the teacup and took a sip.

Lin Jiang nodded in satisfaction.

This was the life he wanted:

When there was work, his secretary did it; when there wasn't... ahem.

But that was no longer possible. Lin Jiang was already considering

whether he should have Daji notify the others later,

telling them to stay alert in the coming days and prepare for any "guests" who might come looking for trouble.

King's Canyon, which had been peaceful for over a hundred years, was probably about to become lively.

Outside Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena, night was deepening.

The Shrek group had just finished their soul-fighting training for the day and were about to return to the academy when the sky suddenly changed.

Golden light tore through the night sky, and a massive ranking stretching across the heavens slowly emerged, its majestic aura blanketing the surrounding lands.

"The Heavenly Ranking? What the hell is that?"

Flender pushed up his glasses, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Xiao Gang, the celestial signs are strange. We shouldn't stay outside long today. Let's take the little monsters back."

Yu Xiaogang answered gravely, yet his gaze remained fixed on the golden sky curtain, a barely perceptible fervor flashing through his eyes.

"Uh... you guys go ahead. I've got something to take care of."

Ma Hongjun suddenly spoke as he rubbed his hands together, a lewd and eager glint shining in his small eyes.

Even the strange phenomenon of the Heavenly Ranking appearing could not suppress the restless evil fire within him.

Dai Mubai pulled at the corner of his mouth, revealing an ambiguous smile.

"Fine, we'll go first. You... mind your moderation."

"Boss Dai, you're really not going? I heard some new girls arrived in the south of the city..."

Ma Hongjun waggled his brows.

"Fuck off! My taste isn't as bad as yours!"

Dai Mubai's face darkened. He shot him an annoyed glare, though his eyes unconsciously drifted toward Zhu Zhuqing, who stood nearby with a cold expression.

Ma Hongjun gave a disgruntled snort, then hurried off and disappeared around the street corner.

The silent Zhu Zhuqing suddenly spoke, her voice cold as ice.

"Men. Not a single one of them is any good."

She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails nearly dug into her flesh.

Did she truly have to resign herself to wasting her days in this lousy academy with that disgusting Dai Mubai?

If she had not been fleeing her family's pursuit and feared exposing her whereabouts, why would she ever have lowered herself to stay in a place like this?

And yet Dai Mubai still had the nerve to claim his "taste" was better than Ma Hongjun's?

Zhu Zhuqing abruptly turned her head. The disgust in her eyes was almost tangible as she enunciated each word.

"You're fifteen? You make me sick."

With that, she turned and left without looking back.

"Stop right there!"

Dai Mubai growled, a cold gleam flashing through his Evil Eyes.

When the group finally returned to the rundown Shrek Academy, they unexpectedly found two figures waiting outside its gates.

Under the bright moonlight, the visitors were clearly revealed—Oscar and Ning Rongrong.

"What are you doing here?"

Dai Mubai spoke harshly, the chill in his Evil Eyes nearly spilling over.

Ning Rongrong jumped down from the large stone by the gate and patted her skirt.

"Of course we were waiting for you! Why are you back so late? Where's Fatty?"

"He had something to do." Dai Mubai replied stiffly, studying her. "What, have you thought it through? Are you staying or getting lost?"

Ning Rongrong raised her chin and pointed straight at the dazzling golden ranking in the sky. Her voice was crisp, yet filled with unquestionable resolve.

"Of course I'm going to study under the force ranked first on the Heavenly Ranking! Only a place like that is worthy of Ning Rongrong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"