Winter Sun, Hidden Dragon's List

Greenwood City.

As dawn broke and the sky was just beginning to brighten, the light of day shone through the clouds, illuminating the magnificent city that had just been built.

The massive city gates were wide open, letting in a constant stream of carriages and horses.

Greenwood City marks a dividing line in the Southern Border and is the first major human city outside the heartland of the Demon Race.

Arriving here means you've entered the influence zone of Southern Pass.

Above the city gates, which spew out countless beasts, hangs a huge head of Calamity Beast. It is the head of a fourth-rank demon king, personally slain by the Prince of Southern Pacification. It remains lifelike even after countless years.

Within the city walls, the bungalows in the style of the Great Yu and the corner towers common in the Southern Border are interspersed, and the people on the streets are dressed in long gowns and long skirts, as well as in unrestrained attire.

The cultural styles of the two regions blend together in this city, creating a unique yet harmonious blend.

Inside a horse-drawn carriage amidst the traffic.

"Finally, we're back within human territory."

Behind the carriage curtain, Li Mo looked relaxed and cheerful, as if he had put down some kind of burden.

Greenwood City is not considered prosperous; it is not even comparable to Yun Province Purple Sun Prefecture City.

Yet it gave him a sense of warmth and bustling activity.

"Want Ice Block?"

"What?"

Ying Bing, who was drinking tea, looked up and followed his gaze.

An old man was sitting in front of a cart on the street, dipping bamboo sticks into the sugar syrup in the pot and drawing on a stone slab. As he drew, he told stories vividly, attracting a large group of children to gather around him.

Sugar painting?

Isn't this something only children eat?

"I want to eat it."

"Okay, then I'll draw one for you too."

Li Mo's smile immediately brightened.

He exchanged a few words with the old man selling sugar paintings, and when he took out a gold bean, the old man's cloudy eyes instantly cleared, indicating that he could tell at a glance that he was a craftsman.

Sugar painting isn't difficult; you just need to paint quickly and prevent the sugar syrup from solidifying.

In no time, a sugar figurine resembling a big- Big-Headed Doll appeared out of nowhere, brought to life by artist Xiao Li's skillful drawing.

"Wow, Na Nao (brother) draws so well!"

"Is this a painting of yourself?"

"Grandpa Qi only ever draws the same few rabbits and tigers, we're so tired of seeing them."

The children surrounded Li Mo, clamoring for him to make a few more different sugar figurines.

The stall owner's grandson, a chubby-faced boy, was the local leader of the kids. He stood with his hands on his hips, Qi Ingestion saying:

"My grandfather is the best. If you're so capable, then draw a few more of these."

Little Li handed the sugar Big-Headed Doll with its big head into the car, raising an eyebrow.

Here we come, here we come, a human city, even the things we encounter are so classic.

The villain's contempt and disdain!

So, what's next? It goes without saying, right?

Fortunately, Senior Brother Ouyang didn't come along; he doesn't show his paintings to children.

Little Li's mouth twitched slightly:

"Today I'll show you what a true master painter really is!"

Then.

Fifteen minutes later.

"Wow, that snake is so fierce! What kind of Demon Beast is it?"

"Hmph, never seen one before, have you? This is Cry Dragon."

"What about this one?"

"That's the Shrimp-Headed Man."

"Wow, big brother, your drawing is so lifelike! Have you seen it before?"

"More than just seen."

Little Li, hands on his hips, said proudly:

"I've been one before! Have you ever heard of an open audition?"

The winter sun seemed a bit warmer.

The children all had various kinds of sugar paintings in their hands, eating them while listening to stories. Even the chubby-faced boy was impressed and voluntarily recognized Little Li as his leader.

A new king of the kids has been born on this street!

Ying Bing crossed her long legs, her jade-like face as cold and aloof as a goddess in the snow, yet she gently took a bite of a candy Big-Headed Doll with a large head.

It's sweet.

The image of the boy displaying his divine power among a group of children, seemingly able to command the wind and rain, was reflected in her eyes.

Let her gaze be like the warm winter sun.

After bidding farewell to the group of little ones, the carriage slowly began to move again.

As the two were searching for an inn, they saw a large crowd gathered not far away, so dense that the carriage couldn't get through.

"The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Ranking List has been released again, it's a pity we don't have the Dragon Gate here."

"It's good enough to have something to look at. Hmm... the Heavenly Ranking and Earth Ranking haven't changed much? That's normal... What about the Hidden Dragon Ranking?"

"They're here! They're here!"

An officer walked through the crowd and posted the last "Hidden Dragon Ranking" on the bulletin board.

The Heavenly Ranking Earth Ranking remain largely unchanged throughout the year and seasons, and even the Human Ranking shows little variation.

Therefore, the most talked-about list is naturally the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

For a moment, many people were stunned, and discussions arose everywhere.

"This change is too drastic!"

"Young Marquis Zhong, Guardian our city, has risen to sixty-fifth place? With him and General Qu leading the troops in Greenwood City, we can rest assured."

"If the Young Marquis were in the army, his strength would be much greater, and he could easily fight opponents of higher levels. I feel that this ranking is still too low."

"Etc."

The common people whispered among themselves, showing great respect for Zhong Zhenyue. After all, given his status, he could have stayed in the safe Southern Pass, but since returning from Yun Province, he had volunteered to come to Greenwood City.

"Zhong Zhenyue is also in Greenwood City?"

Little Li in the crowd, heard a familiar name.

Not long after.

Several Hidden Dragon Ranking were posted, and as the top ten approached, the room suddenly fell silent.

"Wife-Prospering Fighting Soul Eleven? Ying Bing... Tenth?!"

After a long silence, someone finally spoke up in astonishment, as if opening a breach in a river's dam, causing an uproar among the crowd.

"They're only at the Divine Observation Realm. Even a fifth-realm External Scene Realm expert wouldn't dare to venture deep into the Southern Border so casually, would they?"

"How exactly did they do that? What is this Heavenly Jade?"

"Tsk tsk, the two of them together killed four Sixth Grade Calamity Beast. It's extremely difficult for someone of the same realm to fight two of them, and they were even killing Calamity Beast."

"If this record is true, their ranking becomes understandable."

These two Hidden Dragons are, after all, too young.

Moreover, this is only their second time entering the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Their first ranking was already quite impressive, and no one expected them to rise even higher.

But this record is real. Feiyi, Da Feng, Nine-headed Serpent, River-Turning Crocodile are all extremely powerful Calamity Beast clans. When they were at their peak, they left behind many legends in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Despite being outnumbered, they managed to kill them all; not one of them escaped.

"By the way, have you guys noticed?"

"What?"

"Li Mo and Ying Bing appeared on the list together, and their rankings rose at the same time. They're inseparable."

Is it impossible for anyone else to join them?

"Wow, Moon Sword Phoenix, you're in the top ten!" Li Mo turned around and smiled.

"... You're not bad either, Wife-Prospering Fighting Soul."

"..."

Little Li's smile vanished.

So isn't he Peerless Sky Flood Dragon?

You've made such a name for yourself in Southern Border, but you've changed my nickname, you bastard!

Little Li decided to get away from the place that made him sad and find a restaurant to stay in first.

Ying Bing lowered her eyes, her gaze narrowing as she pondered.

The Hidden Dragon Ranking has been released.

Will the Calamity Beast become even more aggressive?

At the same time.

Inside a restaurant called 'Jiawei'.

"Young Marquis, the list has been delivered to you."

In a private room on the second floor, Zhong Zhenyue rubbed his hands together, didn't even glance at the other lists, and directly picked up the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

He used to be very confident in himself.

But ever since he met Li Mo and Ying Bing, his confidence has been completely shattered.

So, feeling ashamed, he became even more courageous and volunteered to come to Greenwood City for training!

"This time, hopefully the gap between us will be smaller..."