The Bottom of the Ranking Revealed! Level 96 Only Twentieth!

(Zhu Zhuqing artwork)

High above the heavens, golden light flowed across the Golden Heavenly Ranking as new words slowly emerged beneath the focus of countless eyes:

[This ranking lists the continent's twenty strongest Soul Masters!]

"Twenty?!"

"Not the top ten, but the top twenty!"

"Oh my god, there are twenty slots! We have a much better chance now!"

Unlike the Faction Ranking's ten slots, this time there were a full twenty positions.

In an instant, hope flared in the hearts of many more people, and the canyon erupted with excited yet nervous uproar.

Inside the VIP room, Bone Douluo Gu Rong's usually calm, murky eyes suddenly blazed with fervent light.

Twenty slots!

With his Level 95 strength, supplemented by the Space Bone Dragon Martial Soul, known for the most bizarre defense in the world, he had a great chance of making the ranking!

Ning Fengzhi was similarly invigorated and said in a low voice:

"Uncle Bone, with the increased number of slots this time, you and Uncle Sword will definitely both make the ranking!"

"Once you receive the Heavenly Ranking's rewards, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's strength will surely rise to another level!"

In his view, Chen Xin possessed peak Level 96 swordsmanship, while Gu Rong wielded Level 95 spatial techniques. Entering the top twenty should not be a problem for either of them.

Elsewhere, in Spirit Hall's VIP room, Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged glances, each seeing the eagerness in the other's eyes.

Both of them were Level 95. Though they were slightly inferior to the Worship Hall's offerings, they were already among the continent's foremost Soul Masters.

With twenty slots, they absolutely had a chance to compete for one!

If they could obtain a reward, perhaps they could break through the bottleneck that had troubled them for years and truly enter the ranks of Peak Douluos!

Meanwhile, outside the distant and secluded Shrek Academy, within the shadows of a remote forest.

A tall figure wearing an old black cloak, reeking of despondency and alcohol, leaned against a dead tree.

Beneath the hood was a weathered face covered in unkempt stubble, along with a pair of eyes that had once been cloudy and dull but now suddenly erupted with terrifying brilliance!

It was none other than the Clear Sky Douluo who had vanished for many years—Tang Hao!

"The Soul Master Strongest Ranking... the top twenty..."

A hoarse voice squeezed from his throat, carrying the resentment he had suppressed for years and a wildfire newly rekindled within him.

His Soul Power had already reached the peak of Level 95, yet old injuries and inner burdens had kept him from advancing for many years.

This Heavenly Ranking reward might be his opportunity to break free from his shackles, return to his peak, and perhaps even go further!

Making the ranking would expose him, but compared to a possible breakthrough, it was worth the gamble!

He abruptly clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking explosively as an aura of dominance over the world faintly revived:

"Other than those old monsters in Spirit Hall's Worship Hall, among Level 95 Soul Masters, I, Tang Hao, do not consider myself inferior to anyone!"

"There will definitely be a place for me in the top twenty! Perhaps... even the top ten is not beyond my reach!"

However, the ambition that had just begun to rise within him was ruthlessly shattered the very next moment!

The Golden Heavenly Ranking shone brilliantly as the rankings officially began to be revealed:

[Soul Master Strongest Ranking, Twentieth Place: Guang Ling Douluo!]

[Affiliated Faction: Spirit Hall]

[The Fifth Offering of Spirit Hall's Worship Hall. Possesses the top-tier Weapon Martial Soul, the Guang Ling Divine Bow, with dual light and ice attributes. A Level 96 Peak Douluo, worthy of Twentieth Place on the Strongest Ranking!]

[Reward: The lifespan of all Soul Rings increases by one thousand years!]

"What?!"

Tang Hao's pupils contracted into pinpoints, and his eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. The shock in his heart was beyond words.

"Level 96... a Peak Douluo... and he is only ranked twentieth?! Is this a joke?!"

He had originally believed that Level 95 qualified him to contend for a place on the ranking. Now, it seemed that even Level 96 had only barely made it onto the very bottom?!

What kind of monsters were the nineteen people ahead of him?!

"When did this continent hide so many unknown peak experts?!"

A chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head. His heart, which had just grown heated with the desire to reenter the world and stir up the winds and clouds,

was instantly drenched to the bone by this bucket of cold water and sank back into the depths.

Beside the canyon arena, Guang Ling Douluo, who had just suffered a crushing defeat,

saw his name appear at the bottom of the ranking. Rather than feeling joy, he looked as though he had been publicly slapped across the face. His complexion instantly flushed red as he shrieked:

"I'm only ranked twentieth?!" To him, this was simply a double humiliation!

The expressions of the other offerings immediately darkened as well.

Guang Ling was ranked twentieth. What did that mean?

It meant that Qian Jun Douluo and Falling Devil Douluo, the twin brothers weaker than Guang Ling, likely... had no chance of making the ranking!

Qian Jun and Falling Devil looked the worst of all. Though they too were Peak Douluos, their Soul Power Levels ranked lower among the offerings. At this point, their hopes were already slim.

As for the other Titled Douluos who had still held a trace of expectation, they were now utterly despairing.

Level 96 was only twentieth? Then what hope did Level 95, or anyone lower, have left?

A feeling of dejection and powerlessness settled over the hearts of many Soul Masters like dark clouds.

This Heavenly Ranking appeared to offer more people opportunities, but in truth, it had bloodily laid bare the chasm between top experts and ordinary experts!

Just as everyone was still stunned by the fact that Level 96 had only made the bottom of the ranking, the Heavenly Ranking's reward descended with overwhelming force!

A gentle golden pillar of light containing the power of supreme laws precisely enveloped Guang Ling Douluo, whose expression was grim.

The nine Soul Rings beneath his feet—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—appeared on their own, completely beyond his control.

Then, beneath countless crimson-eyed gazes filled with envy, the Soul Rings seemed to be smeared and reshaped by an invisible hand, slowly transforming within the light!

In the end, Guang Ling Douluo's Soul Ring configuration had become: purple, purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black!

The lifespan of every Soul Ring had increased by one thousand years out of thin air!

"Gasp—!"

A unified intake of breath rang through the entire crowd, followed by irrepressible cries of shock and feverish excitement!

Increasing Soul Ring lifespan!

These simple words contained enough power to drive any Soul Master mad, even to the point of risking life and death!

Everyone knew that once a Soul Ring was absorbed, its lifespan was fixed. It was an almost unchangeable foundation on a Soul Master's path of cultivation.

Other than the trials of legendary divine inheritances, no one had ever heard of any power in the world capable of defying fate and increasing the lifespan of Soul Rings that had already been set!

Yet the Heavenly Ranking's reward could so easily shatter this iron law of the Soul Master world!

What did that mean?

It meant that the foundation of any Soul Master who received the reward would be strengthened to an outrageous degree. Their potential would surge, and their future path of cultivation would become broader and smoother!

It was no different from laying the firmest possible steps upon their path to the heavens!

Countless gazes instantly became incomparably fervent as they stared fixedly at the golden ranking in the sky.

Even if they had no chance of making the ranking themselves, they still longed to witness more miracles, more... rewards so envy-inducing that they could drive people insane!

Far away, atop the snowy peaks of the Clear Sky Sect.

The elders of the Clear Sky Sect and Sect Master Tang Xiao, still unaware that Seventh Elder Tang Lie had already fallen, were likewise shocked by the information on the Heavenly Ranking.

The Second Elder stroked his long beard and said in a deep voice:

"Level 96 only barely made the ranking... It seems that old fellows like us have no chance at all."

There was a trace of disappointment in his tone, but his gaze soon turned blazing as he looked toward Tang Xiao.

"However, Sect Master, you have already reached the peak of Level 96. Your Soul Power is dense and profound, and the Clear Sky Hammer's might is unmatched. You will certainly make the ranking!"

"In this old man's opinion, you should at least rank around fifteenth place! You will surely surpass other Soul Masters of the same level!"