Confidence Full, Fury and Frustration

As Nether Old Demon's voice fell, Nether Son abruptly turned to look at the Old Ancestor beside him, a flame of hope reigniting in his eyes.

Meeting Nether Son's gaze, Nether Old Demon slowly said, "Nether Son, don't forget that the rankings have only reached ninth place. There are still eight sects ahead of us."

"The reward for ninth place on the Sect Ranking is already this generous!"

"It can allow the Intermediate Half-Saint Two Immortals of Qing Hua to advance to the Mid-stage One-star Dou Saint realm."

"Then what kind of surprises will the rewards for eighth, seventh, and even the sects ranked further ahead bring?"

"It's not impossible for all the sect disciples to rise by two stars at once!"

"Based on the current situation."

"Excluding the Hall of Souls, Pill Tower, and Burning Flame Valley—the top powers with Dou Saint powerhouses stationed there—there are five spots left: three unknown sect powers, as well as Starfall Pavilion and my Tianming Sect, which both have High-level Half-Saints stationed in the Central Continent."

"After Yao Chen was resurrected, although he is now also a High-level Half-Saint like me, Starfall Pavilion's foundation is far inferior to my Tianming Sect's."

"So, even in the worst-case scenario, my Tianming Sect can still rank seventh on the Sect Ranking!"

"Just wait with an open mind!"

After hearing Nether Old Demon's deduction, Nether Son nodded in complete agreement. Then, his eyes filled with anticipation as he said, "The Old Ancestor is right. The Gold Ranking hasn't announced Tianming Sect's rank and reward yet. There's still hope."

"I refuse to believe that all three sects hidden in secret and never seen in public are stronger than my Tianming Sect!"

"After Flower Sect, it should be Starfall..."

Here.

Before Nether Son could finish speaking, new sect imagery appeared on the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking's Light Screen high in the sky.

However, the moment Nether Old Demon saw the image displayed on the Gold Ranking, the expression on his face instantly froze. His pupils widened, filled with disbelief.

Beside him, Nether Son, who had not yet finished speaking, also fell silent at once.

He forcibly swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue. His entire face flushed red, as though his throat had been strangled.

The reason the two of them wore such expressions was mainly because the scene displayed on the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking showed the mountain range near their Tianming Sect.

If it had been another power, any sect that made the top ten on the continent and appeared on the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking would have been ecstatic, celebrating throughout the sect while quietly awaiting the rewards.

But Nether Old Demon and Nether Son could not feel happy at this moment. Their hearts had risen into their throats.

That was because they could not accept this ranking.

In their hearts, even under the worst circumstances, Tianming Sect should rank seventh, behind Starfall Pavilion.

Yet now, the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking had placed Tianming Sect below Starfall Pavilion—an organization they believed inferior to themselves—which was completely different from what they had anticipated.

Thinking back to the content of their earlier discussion, Nether Old Demon and Nether Son felt as though they had been slapped in the face again and again.

After a long silence, Nether Son slowly recovered. He looked toward the gloomy Nether Old Demon beside him and said hoarsely, "Old Ancestor, the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking hasn't announced it yet. Perhaps eighth place isn't my Tianming Sect. It could be some Hidden Sect concealed in this region."

Faced with this extremely far-fetched explanation, Nether Old Demon, who knew there was little hope, did not even reply. His eyes remained fixed on the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking in the void, desperate to know the answer.

Before long, when the three large words "Tianming Sect" appeared in the Gold Ranking's image, the heart Nether Old Demon had been anxiously holding up finally died completely.

Sect Power Ranking, Eighth Place: Central Continent—Tianming Sect

Reason for Ranking: One of the two great sects of the Central Continent. Its disciples increase their cultivation through sinister and cruel methods such as devouring essence blood and Dou Qi;

Although notorious throughout the Central Continent, the sect possesses a profound foundation. Its Sect Master, Nether Son, is at the Peak Nine-Revolutions Dou Venerate realm, while its Supreme Elder, Nether Old Demon, is a High-level Half-Saint. The sect also has numerous Dou Venerates such as Senluo Ghost Venerate and Demonic Flower Evil Lord, along with powerhouses from three Affiliated Sects. Its overall strength is greater than Flower Sect's, placing it eighth on the Sect Ranking.

Reward for being on the list: Three Earth-tier High-grade Cultivation Methods and three Earth-tier High-grade Dou Techniques.

All disciples and elders of Tianming Sect and its Affiliated Sects will increase by one star. (A Peak Nine-Revolutions Dou Venerate will advance to a High-level Half-Saint, while a High-level Half-Saint will advance directly to a Late-stage One-star Dou Saint.)

Ten eighth-grade pills accompanied by Six-colored Pill Lightning.

Upgrade to the Sect Protecting Grand Formation. (It can withstand attacks from a Three-star Dou Saint. The speed at which the world's energy gathers within the formation will surge, increasing the cultivation speed of the sect's disciples. It cannot be plundered.)

As the Gold Ranking's voice fell, countless streaks of Golden Light descended into Tianming Sect.

For a time, the speed at which the world's energy gathered within Tianming Sect surged. Countless elders and disciples broke through under the Heaven Heavenly Dao Blessing.

Hua Jin, who had just joined Tianming Sect, advanced to the Five-Star Dou Venerate realm. Demonic Flower Evil Lord advanced to the Seven-star Dou Venerate realm. Sect Master Nether Son advanced to the High-level Half-Saint realm, while Nether Old Demon advanced directly to the Late-stage One-star Dou Saint realm.

After this storm of breakthroughs ended, Nether Old Demon looked at the Sect Protecting Grand Formation token, cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, and eighth-grade pills floating before him.

Dissatisfied that Tianming Sect had ranked only eighth, Nether Old Demon suddenly stomped his foot.

In an instant, the void beneath him collapsed and shattered.

Countless spatial cracks spread continuously in all directions like a spiderweb.

At the same time, the terrifying pressure of Nether Old Demon, who had just broken through to the Late-stage One-star Dou Saint realm, swept across heaven and earth. Countless Tianming Sect disciples bent at the waist in fear, trembling without understanding what was happening.

Several breaths later, after venting his displeasure, Nether Old Demon first withdrew his Dou Saint pressure.

Then, unable to restrain himself, he raised his voice and questioned the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking high in the sky, "This Old Man refuses to accept it! With Starfall Pavilion's strength, what gives it the right to rank above my Tianming Sect? How can you, the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking, rank—"

"Old Ancestor, watch your words!"

Hearing this, Nether Son's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly grabbed Nether Old Demon and interrupted him. "Old Ancestor, this Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking seems to possess its own consciousness. It previously killed a Loose Cultivator Dou Venerate with ease. Don't misspeak and invite disaster!"

"Since the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking has placed my Tianming Sect eighth..."

"I believe there are only two possibilities. Either Starfall Pavilion did not make the list at all, or Starfall Pavilion is hiding some Secret Means that outsiders don't know about!"

"Seventh place on the Sect Power Ranking will be revealed soon."

"Old Ancestor, please don't get angry yet. Let's continue watching..."

Faced with Nether Son's reminder, Nether Old Demon also realized that his earlier questioning of the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking had been too reckless.

After calming down, he snorted and said, "Even Sound Valley, which has only an Initial Half-Saint stationed there, can make the list. How could Starfall Pavilion possibly have been excluded?"

"I think this Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking is deliberately targeting my Tianming Sect."

"In a moment, this Old Man wants to see how the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking evaluates Starfall Pavilion!"

After saying this, Nether Old Demon waved his hand.

He stored all the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking rewards floating in the void into his Storage Ring.

Then, he turned to Nether Son, who was standing nearby, and said, "I'll keep these things for now. After the Sect Power Ranking finishes being announced, we'll discuss how to distribute them."

"Yes!"