Yu Xiaogang's words fell.
Flender frowned, rubbing his chin with his fingertips.
"Grandmaster is right. Soul beasts can live for at most one hundred and one thousand years. How could there possibly be soul beasts with such high cultivation? Could there really be something wrong with this Sky Screen?"
Already dissatisfied that Star Luo had been ranked so low and holding back his anger, Dai Mubai immediately chimed in.
"Do we even need to question it? This Sky Screen is nothing but a trashy unofficial ranking fabricated by someone!"
Ma Hongjun and Zhao Wuji also found it rather strange when they heard that.
Seeing that everyone had finally acknowledged him, Yu Xiaogang felt immensely satisfied and smugly cursed.
"This trashy unofficial ranking can really make things up. If it has the guts, let it make up a nine-hundred-and-ninety-thousand-year soul beast next for this Grandmaster to see!"
Xiao Wu, who had heard his twisted logic from not far away, could no longer hold herself back. She stepped forward and angrily rebuked him.
"Grandmaster, what kind of crooked logic is that? What makes you so sure that soul beasts can live for at most one hundred and one thousand years?!"
Yu Xiaogang still had not gotten over the anger of being publicly refuted by her last time over his lack of understanding of "deities."
Now that she had publicly refuted him again, how could Yu Xiaogang possibly endure it? He snorted coldly and was about to speak.
But before he could get the words out, Xiao Wu cut him off.
"Grandmaster, if you think you're right, then bring out actual evidence to prove it! If you don't have any, shut up and stop misleading students!"
Yu Xiaogang choked on his words.
"A-actual evidence..."
Yu Xiaogang's flushed red face turned ashen.
It seemed that... he really could not produce any actual evidence.
Ma Hongjun curled his lip and quietly muttered to Zhao Wuji beside him.
"Teacher Zhao Wuji, why is Grandmaster's face as red as a pig's? Could it be that he really is just spouting nonsense?"
Hearing that, Zhao Wuji secretly furrowed his brows as well. There was now a trace of doubt in the way he looked at Yu Xiaogang.
Thinking back carefully, Yu Xiaogang had been questioned several times by three female students, yet not once had he produced concrete evidence to prove himself...
"Enough!"
Suddenly, Tang San's shout shattered the tense silence.
Remembering Yu Xiaogang and the others' previous teachings, he mercilessly berated Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Wu! Who do you think you are? What makes you worthy of questioning Grandmaster? Go wherever it's cool and stop being an eyesore here!"
Xiao Wu was deeply hurt by his words. Her eyes reddened involuntarily, but she quickly gritted her teeth and held herself together as she angrily said.
"Tang San, you really are a hypocritical scumbag! All the kindness you showed me before was an act! From today onward, I am no longer your sister. Once the Sky Screen finishes its announcements, I'll withdraw and leave Shrek!"
After saying that, Xiao Wu did not look back. She turned and quickly walked over to Zhu Zhuqing's side.
Tang San's body jolted as he watched Xiao Wu's retreating back. He instinctively looked toward Yu Xiaogang, panic flickering in his eyes.
He had just followed the Man's Way that Yu Xiaogang had previously taught him, but seeing Xiao Wu like this, he inexplicably felt uneasy.
Yu Xiaogang merely snorted and waved his hand.
"Little San, you did well. This is how you should treat women. There's no need to bother with her. I guarantee that she only said that in anger. She can't possibly withdraw. Just wait and see."
Hearing his teacher say so, the unease in Tang San's heart instantly vanished. He firmly believed that Grandmaster's words were the truth.
Afterward, Yu Xiaogang turned his gaze back to the Sky Screen, his eyes full of defiance as he muttered to himself.
"I refuse to believe this Sky Screen can fabricate things flawlessly. I'll definitely find a real flaw, one that everyone will acknowledge, and prove that this is a fake ranking!"
Dai Mubai, who had always refused to accept the Sky Screen, thought the same. He stared fixedly at the golden Sky Screen overhead.
After returning to Zhu Zhuqing's side, Xiao Wu quietly glanced at Tang San.
What she had said just now really had been said in anger. She had wanted to test whether Tang San still cared about her even a little.
But now, seeing that Tang San remained unmoved, her heart completely died for him. She finally made up her mind to leave!
Seeing the resolve in Xiao Wu's eyes, Zhu Zhuqing could not help wondering where she would go if she withdrew.
Would she, like Zhu Zhuqing herself, search the Power Ranking for a suitable faction to join?
Extreme North.
"Our Extreme North is only eighth place?!"
The Ice Empress looked at the Sky Screen and suddenly cried out in a raised voice.
Her earlier confident claim that they would be in the top five now seemed like a joke.
"How could this be? There are only a handful of factions capable of contending with our Far North."
The Snow Empress also stood frozen in place, her usually cold voice carrying a hint of confusion.
"Damn it, I'll tear down this broken Sky Screen!"
The cold aura around the Ice Empress suddenly surged, but she was interrupted by the Snow Empress's startled cry.
"Bing'er, quickly look at the Sky Screen's evaluation. Our Extreme North has a Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Cave too!"
Hearing that, the Ice Empress curled her lips.
"What? Wasn't it already completely absorbed by that bastard Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, who then mysteriously vanished?"
As she spoke, the Ice Empress casually swept her gaze over the evaluation again, then immediately exclaimed.
"Ah! The Sky Screen says there are two Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Caves? Other than the one consumed by Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, there's still another one!"
This news was like clear skies after rain, filling the Ice and Snow Emperors with excitement.
The Ice Empress threw her arms around the Snow Empress and exclaimed joyfully.
"That's wonderful, Xue'er! Even though the ranking isn't satisfying, at least we learned this good news!"
There was no need to elaborate on how miraculous the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Cave was. Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had used it to reach one million years of cultivation!
If it fell into their hands, they could naturally use it to double, or even triple, their strength!
Rumble—!
Just as the two were rejoicing, a golden pillar of light descended from the heavens and knocked the Ice Empress away from the Snow Empress.
"Ah, what's going on... Is this the Heaven-Sent Reward?!"
The Ice Empress steadied herself and looked over, only to see the Snow Empress's cultivation rapidly rising: six hundred and eighty thousand years, six hundred and ninety thousand years...
In only a few breaths, she was already nearing seven hundred thousand years. What followed was a tribulation phenomenon, as rolling thunder resounded.
Rumble rumble—!
Startled, the Ice Empress hurriedly reminded her.
"Xue'er, quickly take that Tribulation Transcendence Pill that came with the reward! Judging by the name, it should be for transcending tribulation!"
The Snow Empress knew full well how terrifying heavenly tribulation was. Not daring to delay, she swallowed the Tribulation Transcendence Pill that had appeared in her hand.
As the Tribulation Transcendence Pill took effect, the tribulation phenomena in the sky dissipated, and the Snow Empress's cultivation continued climbing.
In the end, with the reward of thirty thousand years of cultivation, she soared all the way from six hundred and eighty thousand years to seven hundred and ten thousand years!
The surrounding icy mist churned violently under the aura of her breakthrough. The Snow Empress's bearing became ever colder and more noble, faintly carrying the majesty of the ancient Ice God!
"S-so strong..."
Feeling that terrifying aura, the Ice Empress stared blankly at the Snow Empress.
The Snow Empress came back to her senses, flashed forward, and leaned close to her ear.
"Don't be surprised. There's a share for you too."
Before her words had even faded, she placed the reward representing a duplicate replacement, the "Forty-Thousand-Year Cultivation Pill," into the Ice Empress's hand.
"Wow, Xue'er, you're so good to me!"
The Ice Empress happily accepted it, only to hand it back with a crestfallen expression.
"But... there's no Tribulation Transcendence Pill. If I take it now at three hundred and eighty thousand years, won't I have to undergo heavenly tribulation? I'd better not take it."
The Snow Empress placed it back in her hand, patted her head, and smiled gently.
"Keep it for now. Perhaps later rankings will also grant Tribulation Transcendence Pills. I said you would have a share of the reward."
Hearing that, the Ice Empress movedly hugged her and kissed her cheek.
"Xue'er, you're so good to me. I love you to death."
Titan Snow Demon King A-Tai and Ice Bear King Xiao Bai were drawn over by the enormous commotion just now.
They happened to witness this ambiguous scene...
"?"
What was this supposed to be?
Chang'an City.
Shangguan Wan'er gazed at the Sky Screen floating in midair and asked expectantly.
"City Lord, more than half of the Power Ranking has already been announced. Which factions do you think will claim the remaining seven spots?"
Before you continue