Qin Jianghe let out a long sigh:
"Now the court is muddleheaded, and the foreign tribes around Great Xia are stirring. The Northern Wilderness is the worst of them, even using this to proclaim that Great Xia has no one left."
"Everyone in the Nine Provinces hopes for a heaven-blessed genius to emerge, one who can blunt that Flying Eagle's edge and reclaim first place on the Qilin Rankings."
Shen Yi asked curiously:
"Is there really no one?"
Qin Jianghe gazed into the distance, a hint of indignation in his voice:
"There was no one before, but things are different now."
"Perhaps because troubled times are approaching, talents have surged forth like spring water from the Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist schools. Even the demonic sects have produced freakish prodigies one after another."
"The Qilin Rankings publish a new issue every half month."
"Every issue reveals a completely different scene. Though the top of the Qilin Rankings is occupied by foreigners, seven of the top ten are young talents of Great Xia."
"It is enough to show the flourishing momentum."
Longing appeared in Shen Yi's eyes. Stepping onto the Qilin Rankings was like stepping onto a stage where he could contend with countless heaven-blessed geniuses.
He was no longer a mayfly rolling in the dust.
He was a sparrow carrying the ambitions of a great swan.
One day, he would become a roc soaring straight into the heavens, spreading its wings across the nine skies.
Shen Yi asked:
"What cultivation does this Flying Eagle Dugu Ao possess?"
"Above the Innate Realm lies the Outer Force Realm."
"He is just one step away from entering the ranks of Earthly Rankings grandmasters."
"And with Dugu Ao's talent and foundation—"
"Once he enters the Grandmaster Realm, he will likely ascend the Earthly Rankings and become one of the seventy-two grandmasters under heaven."
Shen Yi then flipped back through the Heaven's Mystery Rankings to the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings listed before it.
The Heavenly Rankings had ten seats.
They encompassed ten Heaven-Human Unity experts and above. This was the ceiling of martial artists, an existence gazed upon by the masses.
The Earthly Rankings had thirty-six seats.
They listed the thirty-six Great Grandmasters of the Great Grandmaster Realm. Every one of them was a pillar capable of suppressing an entire faction.
The Earthly Rankings had seventy-two seats.
Entering the Grandmaster Realm was the threshold for ascending the Earthly Rankings. Once ranked, one would become one of the seventy-two grandmasters under heaven.
An existence admired by all.
As for the Qilin Rankings, they differed somewhat from the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings.
The basis for evaluating and ranking the three lists was a martial artist's cultivation realm and actual combat strength.
The Qilin Rankings placed greater importance on potential.
What was potential?
The young, the powerful, those blessed with extraordinary talent—heaven-blessed geniuses who might one day ascend the Heaven, Earth, or Human Rankings.
That was potential.
The reason Shen Yi had made the rankings was because, while escorting Qin Jianghe, he had repeatedly fought one against many and broken through encirclements by sheer force.
He had even joined forces with Qin Jianghe to kill Fang Yu, who was in the Acquired Realm, across a realm, displaying potential far beyond that of ordinary martial artists.
Of course, his rank of eighty-eighth—
Was partly because his strength was not yet high enough, and partly because he had cooperated with Qin Jianghe in fighting above his realm.
If he could have killed Fang Yu alone, his position on the Qilin Rankings might have risen several places further.
Shen Yi folded up the Heaven's Mystery Rankings.
"Old Qin, give this to me, will you?"
Qin Jianghe waved a hand:
"It was meant for you in the first place."
"The Heaven's Mystery Rankings are published every half month."
"They are sold in every major town and city. For larger sects and factions, Heaven's Secret Pavilion even sends people to deliver them personally."
Qin Jianghe watched the gleam repeatedly flash in Shen Yi's eyes.
He asked with a smile:
"Your identity has been exposed."
"You do not seem nervous at all. Why do I feel like you are even more fired up instead?"
Shen Yi grinned.
"That is because I discovered that in this rotten world, there are finally things worth making one's blood boil for."
He put away the Heaven's Mystery Rankings.
Then he headed down the hillside.
Without looking back, he waved to Qin Jianghe:
"I will not be returning to Broken Blade Hall."
"Old Qin, we will meet again in the martial world."
Qin Jianghe crossed his arms and watched Shen Yi's retreating back with a smile, calling out loudly:
"When wandering the martial world, staying alive comes first."
"Do not die out there."
"Got it!"
His hearty reply carried from afar and lingered without fading, until his figure vanished into the fields and wilderness.
Qin Jianghe had a premonition.
Shen Yi would surely claim a place on one of the three higher rankings in the future.
"Let us go. Back to Broken Blade Hall."
When Qin Jianghe returned to Broken Blade Hall with the disciples and members, a servant in blue hurried over and whispered into Qin Jianghe's ear:
"Hall Master."
"Someone has come to visit. They are from the Pacification Office."
"They are waiting in the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, having tea."
Qin Jianghe's expression tightened.
They had come quickly.
"What position?"
"From what they said to Elder Zhao, he calls himself a Trial Commander. Two others are accompanying him, both Banner Commanders."
Qin Jianghe became even more wary.
A Trial Commander in Dong Commandery had to possess strength at least above the Acquired Realm, while a Banner Commander had to be a Black Guard of at least the First-Class Realm.
He had not expected the Pacification Office to arrive so quickly.
He had only received the news that morning.
In the blink of an eye, they had already reached Broken Blade Hall.
"Lead the way."
The servant led Qin Jianghe straight toward the Hall of Gathering Righteousness.
Before they even entered the courtyard, Qin Jianghe heard the clash of weapons. He hurriedly pushed open the gate and entered.
Two people were sparring in the courtyard.
Three others stood to the side watching.
Of the two fighting—
One wore black robes embroidered with silver cranes, a black cloak draped over him. He was unmistakably a Black Guard. The other wore plain cloth, was broad and powerfully built, and wielded two Xuanhua Axes. He was Zhao Qiushan.
Of the three spectators—
Two were likewise Black Guards in black robes embroidered with silver cranes.
The last was Sun Yong, a senior elder of Broken Blade Hall.
Qin Jianghe's sudden entrance made the spectators turn to look. Zhao Qiushan also cried out in delighted surprise:
"Big Brother!"
Yet in that very instant of distraction, the Black Guard opposite him seized the fleeting opening.
He advanced with his saber drawn.
His blade flowed like the surging waters of a vast river, then howled like a hurricane, sweeping layer upon layer of saber force toward Zhao Qiushan.
Zhao Qiushan had never expected his opponent to hesitate so little, as if he truly intended to exterminate him without leaving a trace.
He hastily raised his twin axes across his body to block.
The next moment.
Clang! A crisp ring sounded.
The Embroidered Spring Blade swept upward at an angle. The Black Guard employed a clever force, twisting Zhao Qiushan's twin axes from his hands and sending them spinning into the air.
Then he turned and brought the blade down in a leaping slash.
The strike fell directly toward Zhao Qiushan's head.
If he failed to evade it, blood and brains would splatter, and he would die on the spot.
Qin Jianghe's face changed.
His body shot into the courtyard like a fierce gale. While still in midair, his broken saber left its sheath at his waist with a ringing clang.
The Black Guard saw only a blur before his eyes.
A strange yet ancient-looking broken saber appeared before Zhao Qiushan. With a clang, it firmly blocked his Embroidered Spring Blade.
At the same time, a surging force traveled along the blade. The Black Guard's body jolted violently, and he immediately lost control, flying backward from where he stood.
"I wonder how my brother has offended this lord, for you to strike with such deadly intent?"
One of the Black Guards who had been watching from the sidelines smiled faintly. With a flash of movement, he appeared behind the Black Guard who had been sent flying.
He lightly raised one palm.
Qin Jianghe's immense force, transmitted through the blade, vanished into nothing, allowing the man to land steadily.
Sun Yong, standing nearby, watched in alarm.
This man's movement speed—
Was even faster than Qin Jianghe's just now.
The Black Guard curled his lips slightly, raised a hand in a small salute, and said blandly:
"Li Wudang, Trial Commander of the Dong Commandery Pacification Office."
"Greetings, Hall Master Qin."
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