The Sky Screen immediately followed by listing the current state of the Star Luo Empire, which was hardly any better than the Heaven Dou Empire.
[Star Luo Empire: Corrupt nobility, rotten military, strong on the outside but weak within, brothers at each other's throats, morality in disarray, and just as lacking in high-level combatants]
[The Star Luo Imperial Family and the Duke of Nether arranged betrothals for their children from a young age, encouraging them to slaughter one another, all for the throne in the end]
[The brutal struggle forced the prince Dai Mubai to flee Star Luo City and hide away in Suotuo City in the Heaven Dou Empire, where he could laze around until he was either stripped of his position or killed at twenty-five]
[Brutal conflict forged twisted personalities. Every Star Luo Emperor had mental problems. If you don't want to die, stay far away, or you might become a soul beneath his blade at any moment]
The Star Luo Emperor glared at the Sky Screen, his face full of fury and so gloomy it was frightening.
The struggles within the Star Luo Imperial Family were an open secret among the nobility, but the ordinary people of the Star Luo Empire certainly knew nothing about them.
Now that these matters had been exposed, no one could say whether they would shake the Star Luo Imperial Family's rule.
And the Sky Screen's claim that the military was rotten was something he could not accept. The Star Luo Emperor looked down on Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire because he believed the Star Luo Empire's army was far stronger than the Heaven Dou Empire's.
The Star Luo Imperial Family was confident that, without Spirit Hall, the Star Luo Empire could swallow the Heaven Dou Empire whole.
But that was only what they believed. In truth, the armies of the two empires were much of a muchness. The Star Luo Empire might really be a little stronger, but the difference was limited.
The Sky Screen immediately followed with a summary.
[The two great empires command vast resources, yet have fallen into decadence amid luxury. They are two cautionary examples. Still, their sheer size earns them a spot guarding the gate outside the rankings. Take this as a lesson]
[Reward: None]
The two great empires of the Douluo Continent had been branded cautionary examples by the Sky Screen and placed outside the rankings to guard the gate. That put a bit of pressure on whoever ranked tenth.
And the big, bold "None" in the reward column seemed more like a cruel joke.
Dehya, Candace, and Nilou were on their way to Star Luo City under Alhaitham's arrangements.
"Are these two empires really as awful as the Sky Screen says?"
Dehya took out her waterskin and had a drink, then passed it to Nilou.
"Thanks!"
"We've seen it for ourselves on the way here, haven't we? Nobles oppressing commoners, the strong bullying the weak. It happens everywhere.
"This isn't Teyvat, after all. There are no Seven Archons here. I even think the Sky Screen is understating things."
Candace chimed in as well. "Let's just do what we can. If we see someone in need, we help. We'll leave the rest to Lesser Lord Kusanali. I believe she can change all this."
"Candace, aren't you a descendant of the Scarlet King? You trust Lesser Lord Kusanali that much?"
"What can I do? The Scarlet King has long since fallen."
Meanwhile, in Spirit City, Qian Renxue watched the Sky Screen and asked Qian Daoliu, "Grandpa, which faction do you think will rank tenth?"
Qian Daoliu thought for a moment before answering, "To surpass the two great empires, it would have to be at least one of the Upper Three Sects. Of those, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan should be the weakest."
"Are there really ten factions on the Douluo Continent as strong as, or even stronger than, the Upper Three Sects?"
Qian Daoliu shook his head. The only ones he could think of were the Upper Three Sects, Spirit Hall, Sea God Island, and the Akademiya. He had no idea about the rest.
Just then, the Sky Screen updated, and the tenth-ranked faction appeared.
[Tenth place: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan]
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's sect master, Yu Yuanzhen, was unconvinced. He believed that his clan was absolutely no weaker than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, an auxiliary-type sect.
Yu Luomian, Yu Yuanzhen's younger brother, was quite pleased. Making the list meant there would be a reward.
He just didn't know whether the reward would go to the whole sect or to the sect master personally. If it was the latter, he wouldn't be so happy.
The Sky Screen continued to update, listing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's basic information.
[Inherited Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon]
[High-level combatant: Yu Yuanzhen: Title Thunder,
Soul Power Level: Rank 95,
Soul Ring Configuration: Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black]
[Secret Technique: Dragon Transformation]
[Major Sect Members: Yu Yuanzhen, Yu Luomian, Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, Yu Tianheng, Yu Tianxin...]
Seeing her name listed among the sect members on the Sky Screen, Liu Erlong immediately objected. "I'm not a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
"Erlong..."
"Xiaogang, weren't you expelled from the sect too? What gives this Sky Screen the right to count us as members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
"Erlong, isn't this a good thing? Making the list means a reward. Don't turn your back on a benefit!"
Flender's words really did convince Liu Erlong. She was happy enough to take a reward, but she definitely wouldn't admit to being a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. As for what other people thought, that was none of her business. It was pure self-deception.
At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo started discussing it too.
"That old dragon, Yu Yuanzhen, really is getting on in years. His strength hasn't improved one bit in all these years."
"Perhaps the Sky Screen's reward will help him break through. But if the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is only tenth, are there really that many powerful factions on the Douluo Continent?"
Bone Douluo couldn't answer Sword Douluo's question either, so they could only wait for the Sky Screen to reveal more.
Then the Sky Screen showed a series of scenes depicting the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's gradual changes since its founding.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's finest hour was naturally when it was hailed as one of the so-called Upper Three Sects alongside the Clear Sky Sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
A dragon's roar rang out, and the Sky Screen showed Yu Yuanzhen unleashing a Soul Skill.
With his Martial Soul Avatar released, Yu Yuanzhen was wreathed in lightning, his imposing presence quite impressive.
Yu Yuanzhen then unleashed his secret technique, Dragon Transformation. Combined with his Martial Soul Avatar, it turned him completely into a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and greatly increased his strength.
Watching the Sky Screen, Qian Daoliu gave his assessment of Yu Yuanzhen.
"The Dragon Transformation Secret Technique of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan does have its merits. At the same Soul Power Level, defeating him once he has fully transformed is no easy feat."
Seeing their sect master display such formidable strength on the Sky Screen, the members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan felt proud to share in his glory.
Yu Xiaogang watched the Sky Screen with envy, and resented even more that his Martial Soul was Luo Sanpao instead of a true Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
After Yu Yuanzhen demonstrated the Dragon Transformation Secret Technique, more words appeared on the Sky Screen.
[The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan once had a chance to advance even further. Unfortunately, they failed to seize it]
Once the words appeared on the Sky Screen, the image of another person emerged.
This person had appeared on the Sky Screen before, so many people recognized him. It was Yu Xiaogang.
The members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were all incredulous.
Before you continue