Empress Wu Zetian

"Your Majesty, Empress, please, give us an answer!"

Yu Xiaogang was growing anxious.

Just as he prepared to launch into another long-winded speech:

BOOM—!

The Heavenly Curtain trembled.

The vast, golden light of the ranking list pierced directly through the dome of the great hall, spilling down upon everyone present.

All voices came to an abrupt halt.

Whether it was Qian Renxue, Yu Xiaogang, or Shrek's Monsters, everyone looked up in shock.

Their gazes pierced through the roof of the hall, witnessing a soul-stirring sight.

"What... is that?"

Ma Hongjun's mouth hung agape as he muttered to himself.

The great hall fell into a deathly silence.

The previously tense atmosphere, thick with the threat of conflict, was instantly shattered by this sudden appearance of the Heavenly Dao Ranking.

No one cared about negotiations or reinforcements anymore.

In the face of such majestic heavenly might, all mundane struggles seemed insignificant.

The golden light poured down like a galaxy from the nine heavens, instantly drowning out the clamor of the entire Daming Palace.

Everyone's eyes were drawn to the massive list that had pierced through the roof and now hung suspended in the firmament.

The entire list flowed with profound Dao runes; the appearance of every single character was accompanied by a hum that made one's soul tremble.

Qian Renxue gracefully retracted the soul power she had been about to unleash.

She turned slightly, her golden palace gown appearing even more magnificent under the radiance of the light.

The hem of her dress swayed gently with her movement, the slit revealing a pair of slender, shapely legs.

They were not merely a symbol of beauty, but contained an explosive power capable of shattering mountains and rivers.

She was in no hurry to continue the previous topic.

As the inheritor of the God of Angels, she possessed a confidence and pride that others could hardly reach.

In the eyes of this future God of Angels, this so-called "Power Ranking" was practically a coronation ceremony tailor-made for the Martial Soul Empire.

Looking across the current Douluo Continent, what other force could be more prosperous than the Martial Soul Empire?

None.

There simply isn't a second one to be found.

Once this Heavenly Ranking makes the Martial Soul Empire's standing public, it will serve as the perfect ultimatum for surrender.

By then, that Empress of the Great Tang sitting behind the curtain will naturally understand what it means for a wise bird to choose its tree to nest in.

A trace of composure, as if everything were under her control, flickered in Qian Renxue's pale golden eyes.

She even had the leisure to extend a slender hand clad in a lace glove, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

This posture was breathtakingly beautiful, yet it carried a sense of holiness that kept others at a distance.

On the other side of the grand hall.

Yu Xiaogang also held his proud head high.

With his hands clasped behind his back, even though his attire was not as magnificent as Qian Renxue's, there was not a hint of timidity in his expression.

In fact, it even carried a touch of the aloofness and conceit peculiar to a scholar.

The timing of this Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking's appearance was simply marvelous.

Though the Martial Soul Empire was strong, it was, after all, an enemy to the entire world.

And what he represented was the massive alliance composed of the Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, the various great sects, and Shrek Academy.

In terms of top-tier combat power, they might be slightly inferior, but in terms of the breadth of their influence and the number of allies, they held an absolute advantage.

As long as this Empress of the Great Tang could see the immense scale of their coalition through the Heavenly Curtain, why worry that the Great Tang wouldn't lean toward their side?

Both parties harbored their own secret agendas, each waiting for this Heavenly Ranking to build momentum for themselves.

Behind the beaded curtain.

Wu Zetian leaned lazily against the Dragon Throne, her originally tense imperial body now completely relaxed.

Her majestic phoenix eyes were currently peering through the gaps in the beads, watching the figure standing in the corner.

Li Xin.

As long as this man stood there, she wouldn't be afraid even if the sky were to collapse.

As for those so-called imperial hegemonies and godhood inheritances outside, they were nothing more than passing clouds in her eyes.

If not for Li Xin's explicit instructions before he went into seclusion—telling her to maintain the balance of the continent and not be easily drawn into disputes—she would have ordered them to be shown the door long ago.

Now, it was fine.

He had come out of seclusion.

The empire of the Great Tang and the chess game of this continent would now be decided by him.

The corners of Wu Zetian's mouth curled upward slightly, revealing a rare, girlish expression.

She was even looking forward to it, curious to see how Li Xin would handle the farce unfolding before them.

Just then.

The Golden Ranking above the firmament finally began to change.

Golden clouds surged, and lines of gilded characters slowly emerged, as if a god were wielding a brush in the void.

[Heavenly Dao Power Ranking, Tenth Place!]

Everyone's breathing stalled for a heartbeat.

Who would be the first power to make the list?

[Shrek Academy!]

On the Heavenly Curtain, the imagery shifted.

An introduction to Shrek Academy appeared.

It was an academy steeped in legend; though it had not been founded long, it had cultivated a generation of monstrous geniuses.

Furthermore, the current head of the Tang Sect, Tang San, hailed from there, maintaining inextricable ties with the rising power of the Tang Sect.

Although its foundation was still shallow and a portion of its core combat strength had been diverted to the Tang Sect, resulting in a ranking of only tenth, this was already a supreme honor for an academy.

Immediately following.

The most anticipated moment arrived.

[Ranking reward distribution!]

[Shrek Academy Dean Flender, for his excellent guidance and for educating countless students.]

[Specially bestowed: Soul Power Level increased by ten levels!]

[Specially bestowed: One God-Bestowed Soul Ring (age determined by the recipient's capacity)!]

BOOM—!

A collective gasp of shock instantly echoed throughout the grand hall.

Even in Qian Renxue's indifferent eyes, a flicker of surprise flashed across.

A direct increase of ten levels of spirit power?

And an additional God-Bestowed Soul Ring on top of that?

One had to realize that Flender was originally an eighty-third-level Soul Douluo.

With this wave of rewards, wouldn't that propel him directly into the realm of a Titled Douluo on the spot?

And not just any Titled Douluo, but one equipped with a God-Bestowed Soul Ring!

This kind of advancement could truly be called defying the heavens and changing one's fate.

Yu Xiaogang was trembling slightly with excitement.

He stared fixedly at the Heavenly Curtain, the greed and envy in his eyes nearly overflowing.

If only these rewards were for him, how wonderful that would be?

But he quickly adjusted his mindset.

Flender was his good brother and a staunch supporter of the alliance.

If Flender became stronger, the alliance became stronger, which meant Yu Xiaogang's own foundation became stronger!

"Ahem."

Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat, and that radiant confidence befitting a "Master" returned to his face.

He stepped forward, his gaze fixed directly on Wu Zetian behind the beaded curtain, his voice resonant:

"Your Majesty, Empress, do you see this?"

"This is the choice of the Heavenly Dao!"

"Shrek Academy is the place where we have poured our heart and soul, and now, it has even received the recognition of the Heavens."

As he spoke, he paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over the cold-faced Qian Renxue to the side, before continuing to hold forth:

"Not only that, but the Tang Sect has now been established."

"The Tang Sect Master, Tang San, is a genius of this era, and he has even united the Clear Sky Sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the royal families of the two great empires."

"The power we have gathered represents the justice and hope of the entire continent."