Battle of the Bottom and Top of the Ranking

"Here they come, here they come."

A commotion rippled through the spectators in the stands.

Ma Feifei, confused, couldn't help but ask Zhou Zhuling beside him in a low voice, "What's going on?"

Zhou Zhuling frowned slightly, also unsure. It was Zhou Guanyu next to them who chimed in, "I heard that Yun Chang and Yang Chengzhi were childhood sweethearts. They both got into Zhenguan Academy together, but for some reason later on, they separated, and Yun Chang got together with Xiaoyaozi."

When Ma Feifei heard this, the plot felt a bit familiar. Thinking carefully, it seemed like something he had imagined for Yang Chengzhi in a book he wrote. Could it actually be true?

"So that's why Yang Chengzhi and Xiaoyaozi got into a fight before the national war without a word?"

If that were the case, it would be easy to understand why Yang Chengzhi hated Xiaoyaozi to the bone. After all, this could be considered a case of a stolen wife, right?

Zhou Guanyu shook his head and said, "This is just hearsay. The two have never admitted their relationship, and it's still unknown if there was ever a romance between them. However, it seems that ever since Yun Chang publicly got together with Xiaoyaozi, Yang Chengzhi's cultivation has stagnated. And at last year's Dragon Ranking competition, it was only with Yun Chang's help that Yang Chengzhi didn't fall off the Dragon Ranking."

Although many things were not admitted by the parties involved, the accumulation of various details was enough to speculate on some truths. This was also why Yun Chang's finding Yang Chengzhi just now caused some commotion among the spectators; they were all following this 'love triangle' and knew some of the relationships between the three.

Ma Feifei rubbed his chin, looking at Yang Chengzhi, and murmured to himself, "Now that you mention it, I feel like he has the protagonist's halo."

At this moment, Yun Chang on the stage was staring at Yang Chengzhi with complex eyes. Yang Chengzhi's breakthrough to the Spirit Sect realm had surprised her greatly.

"What are you doing here?" Yang Chengzhi looked at Yun Chang calmly and said faintly.

"Congratulations," Yun Chang said softly.

"Thank you."

The atmosphere was a bit awkward. Yun Chang wanted to say something but didn't know where to start. Yang Chengzhi's emotions churned inside, but he didn't want to say a word.

"Student Yun Chang, are you here to challenge the rankings?" The instructor beside them, feeling awkward, couldn't help but ask.

"Replying to the instructor, Student Yun Chang is here to challenge the rankings," Yun Chang said faintly.

Looking at Yang Chengzhi, a different expression appeared on Yun Chang's complex face. "I'll give you my ranking. Promise me you won't challenge him, okay?"

During the 'ranking challenge' phase, the defender with a higher rank was not restricted from challenging a defender with a lower rank, and both parties had the right to exchange rankings upon winning or losing.

Yang Chengzhi shook his head and glanced at Xiaoyaozi in the distance. He was currently fighting a freshman. Xiaoyaozi also seemed to have met his match, and the two were fighting fiercely, back and forth.

"I've returned this time not for the ranking, but only for a battle."

He and Xiaoyaozi had too much enmity. The path of cultivation emphasized clarity of thought. For the past two years, Xiaoyaozi had become an obstacle in his cultivation path, causing his cultivation to stagnate for two years. Without removing this obstacle, he would never be able to go further in his cultivation in this lifetime.

Yun Chang shook her head, her tone carrying a hint of pleading. "You can't beat him. Listen to my advice and give up this idea, okay?"

When Yang Chengzhi heard this, he shrugged and said with a hint of self-deprecation, "If I can't beat him, then I can't. It's not like it's the first time I've lost to him anyway."

He had lost to Xiaoyaozi in the first Dragon Ranking competition two years ago. He had lost to Xiaoyaozi again in the internal conflict a month ago. He was used to it.

"This time is different. He will kill you," Yun Chang said earnestly.

She knew Xiaoyaozi too well. If the previous Yang Chengzhi was just an ant in Xiaoyaozi's eyes, then the current Yang Chengzhi, with his greatly improved cultivation, had successfully threatened Xiaoyaozi. Given Xiaoyaozi's personality, he would definitely not allow Yang Chengzhi to continue growing. Even if it was during the Dragon Ranking competition, Xiaoyaozi would risk violating the rules to kill Yang Chengzhi and eliminate this hidden danger.

"Coincidentally, I want to kill him this time too," Yang Chengzhi drew the sword in his hand, glanced at Yun Chang, and said, "Are you going to fight this match or not? If not, then get down. I have things to do."

Yun Chang glared at Yang Chengzhi, bit her lower lip, and finally, as if making a decision, she spread her hand outwards, and a Spirit Sword appeared in her palm.

"Then I can only stop you from going to him."

This was the first time Yun Chang had attacked Yang Chengzhi since they entered Zhenguan Academy. Yang Chengzhi looked at Yun Chang, his face filled with emotion.

With a wave of the Spirit Sword, a flash of light appeared, and a rift opened between Yang Chengzhi and Yun Chang.

"From now on, you and I are strangers."

Yun Chang's eyes reddened, and her heart felt inexplicably blocked. The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy began to stir, and the Spirit Sword in her hand was enveloped by the spiritual energy. The Spirit Sword seemed unable to withstand the powerful spiritual energy and trembled continuously.

Pfft~

With a sound that pierced the air, Yun Chang charged towards Yang Chengzhi, and the two began to fight.

"Yang Chengzhi is constantly on the defensive. It seems there really is something between them," commented Zhou Guanyu, who was watching.

As the fifteenth-ranked on the Dragon Ranking, Yun Chang's cultivation had also broken through to the Spirit Ancestor realm, but she was only at the late stage of Spirit Ancestor First Stage.

In contrast, Yang Chengzhi had reached the Spirit Sect Second Stage cultivation. It was basically impossible for Yun Chang to defeat him. However, in their fight, Yun Chang was always the aggressor, and Yang Chengzhi was on the defensive. Many spectators with profound cultivation could even see that Yang Chengzhi had opportunities to counterattack several times, but he ultimately gave them up.

"This Yang Chengzhi is truly devoted!" exclaimed a seasoned gossip spectator.

"After all, they were childhood sweethearts, even though she's already run off with someone else," said another spectator. Quite a few people knew about this matter.

"Who can blame Yun Chang for running off with Xiaoyaozi when Yang Chengzhi can't compare to him? That's just how the world is; without strength, you can't protect anything."

In the eyes of the world, Yun Chang's choice was not wrong. She was merely adapting to the laws of this world. Only by attaching herself to the strong could she go further.

"However, Yang Chengzhi's cultivation has surged now, and he's not worse than Xiaoyaozi," analyzed a spectator.

"What good does that do? Setting aside cultivation, can an ordinary person like Yang Chengzhi compare to Xiaoyaozi's background? His father is a Spirit Emperor."

On the path of cultivation, talent is indeed important, but without a powerful background to support your cultivation, your path will be extremely difficult, and everything will depend on your own efforts and exploration. However, if you have a strong background to support you, the path of cultivation will not only be smooth but also allow you to take many detours.

"You can't say that. The former Emperor Chu the Conqueror was also a woodcutter from a mountain village, yet he established the vast Chu State and achieved the status of a Spirit Saint."

"Aren't you just arguing? If that's the case, then everyone is Emperor Chu the Conqueror?"

"How do you know Yang Chengzhi isn't the next Emperor Chu the Conqueror?"

"..."

The discussions in the audience had gone off-topic.

On the stage, Yun Chang continuously tried to inflict some damage on Yang Chengzhi, but no matter what she did, even with a full-power strike, she still couldn't cause any damage to him.

Furthermore, as they exchanged blows, Yun Chang became increasingly shocked. She realized that Yang Chengzhi's cultivation was nowhere near the Spirit Ancestor First Stage. His level was at least one rank higher than hers, meaning Yang Chengzhi was at least Spirit Ancestor Second Stage cultivation.

"How did your cultivation grow so fast?"

"Perhaps it's fate!" Yang Chengzhi rarely smiled. He glanced towards Xiaoyaozi and saw that the battle on his side had already concluded, with Xiaoyaozi still remaining on the stage.

Coincidentally, Xiaoyaozi was also watching his match with Yun Chang. Seeing Yang Chengzhi's gaze sweep over, a cold smile appeared on Xiaoyaozi's face.

'Ding~'

'Clang~'

With a crisp collision sound, Yun Chang was knocked off the stage.

"Student Yang Chengzhi wins," the instructor beside the stage announced the result.

"Next, you will quietly watch. Watch how I defeat the choice you once made," Yang Chengzhi said softly as he walked up to Yun Chang.

Yang Chengzhi stood up and met Xiaoyaozi's gaze from beneath the Ascension Stele. His eyes were filled with burning battle intent. His cape, as if infected by this fighting spirit, billowed without wind.

"Dragon Ranking Three Hundred, student Yang Chengzhi, challenges the Dragon Ranking Number One!"

A world-shattering declaration echoed, stirring up a commotion on Jiaolong Plain.

"The bottom of the ranking challenging the top? Did I hear that right?" everyone exclaimed in surprise.

This was the first time in the five thousand years since Zhenguan Academy established the Dragon Ranking that someone from the bottom had challenged the top. It was not only unprecedented but also likely to remain so for a long time.

This declaration instantly brought Jiaolong Plain to a standstill. Challengers stopped their matches, the audience stopped their discussions, and even important figures like King Chu Saint were drawn in, all watching Yang Chengzhi and Xiaoyaozi.

"This is quite interesting~" was the thought of the important figures.

"How dare he?" was the thought of the ordinary cultivators.

"It's finally coming!" was the thought of the students within Zhenguan Academy.

"Here it comes, whether this mission can be completed depends on this battle!" was Ma Feifei's thought.