Fourteenth on the Golden Ranking Exposed!

Inside the secret chamber, blue-gold light rained down like drifting starlight.

Ah Yin looked at the young man before her, a man connected to her by blood and separated for dozens of long years, her eyes instantly brimming with tears.

"Xiao'er..."

Her voice trembled, laden with both pain and endless longing.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ah Yin stepped forward and pulled Tang Xiao into a tight embrace.

Tears slid down her cheeks, dissolving into specks of glowing blue light that vanished into the air.

"All these years... you have suffered."

Ah Yin's voice choked with emotion as she caressed Tang Xiao's cheek.

"It is Mother's fault. I could not protect you back then, leaving you to endure so much hardship all on your own."

Looking at the gentle woman weeping with joy for his sake, Tang Xiao felt his heart, hardened like iron through slaughter and war, soften.

He let his mother stroke his face and comforted her, "Mother, I am fine. Am I not standing right here, safe and sound?"

After the reunion, Ah Yin's emotions gradually stabilized.

She took Tang Xiao's hand, her eyes filled with concern and curiosity, and asked softly, "Xiao'er, tell Mother, how have you spent these years?"

"Back then, you were abandoned by that heartless man on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest—a wilderness ravaged by soul beasts. You were so small; how did you ever survive?"

Hearing Ah Yin bring up the past, Tang Xiao's expression remained calm.

The arduous years of struggling on the edge of life and death and rising through blood and storms sounded light and trivial in his retelling.

"It was nothing, Mother, you need not worry."

"After being abandoned, I relied on my own Blue Silver Grass origin to cultivate diligently and avoid those powerful soul beasts."

"Later, as my strength grew, I left the Douluo Continent and traveled to the Sun Moon Continent overseas."

"There, I established an empire of my own, and today, I have unified the entire continent."

Tang Xiao spoke with an understated tone.

He then looked at Ah Yin's still-ethereal form and continued, "However, Mother, your current body is merely a soul state; it has not truly fused with a physical form."

"To resurrect you and reshape a perfect body, I need to take you back to my empire."

"Deep within my empire lies a Source of Life I cultivated with my own hands. Only there, by drawing upon the life force of the entire continent, can I perfectly reshape your body without leaving any hidden flaws."

Upon hearing Tang Xiao's words, Ah Yin stood frozen, her beautiful face etched with shock.

"You... you established an empire?"

Though she had been confined to the secret chamber, she understood just how difficult it was to build an empire.

Her eldest son, during the time he was abandoned, had not only survived but had become a God King and even established a massive, unified empire overseas?

This simply exceeded the limits of her comprehension.

However, before Ah Yin could recover from her shock—

Rumble!

A deafening roar suddenly erupted from the sky.

The characters on the Gold List began to shift.

[Strongest Power Ranking, 14th Place: Golden Crocodile Douluo!]

[Identity: Second Elder of the Spirit Hall Empire, Level 98 Super Douluo!]

[Martial Soul: Golden Crocodile King!]

With the announcement of the Gold List, the entire Douluo Continent fell into an instant uproar.

Spirit Hall Empire, Elder Hall.

"How is this possible?"

Green Kite Douluo stared at the golden characters manifesting in the sky, unable to stop herself from crying out, her beautiful face filled with horror.

"The Second Elder's soul power is as high as level 98, and his strength is unfathomable. He is one of the few supreme powerhouses on the entire continent. How could he only be ranked fourteenth?"

Beside her, Lion Douluo's face was also grim, his eyes filled with gravity.

"The Second Elder has been famous for a long time. In terms of seniority and strength, apart from the Great Elder, almost no one in the empire can surpass him."

"This Heavenly Dao Gold List underestimates the foundation of our Spirit Hall Empire far too much!"

In the center of the great hall.

An old man clad in golden armor, his frame as sturdy as a mountain, stood in silence.

His long golden hair stirred without wind, and his entire being radiated a terrifying, suffocating pressure.

It was none other than the Second Elder of the Spirit Hall Empire, Golden Crocodile Douluo!

At this moment, Golden Crocodile Douluo stared at the glaring "14th Place" in the sky, his expression turning unsightly.

"I have spent my life cultivating, forged through a hundred battles, and served three generations of Popes of Spirit Hall, yet I only end up in the bottom-tier position of 14th?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice was low, suppressing both rage and resentment.

He considered himself peerless, looking down on everyone in the world except for Qian Daoliu and the Tang Chen of yesteryear.

14th place!

For a man who had been proud his entire life, this was nothing short of a massive humiliation!

"Second Elder, please calm your anger."

Seeing Golden Crocodile Douluo lose his temper, Green Kite Douluo hurriedly stepped forward and said indignantly:

"This ranking on the Golden List is truly unfair!"

"Back in the day, you led the troops to conquer all directions, fought against the old Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, and even severely wounded veteran Title Douluos from forces like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Your military exploits were illustrious, and your might shook the world!"

"Yet now, you are ranked only one spot higher than Chen Xin, who has just broken through to level 98?"

"What virtue or ability does that Chen Xin possess to be mentioned in the same breath as you, Second Elder?"

Hearing Green Kite Douluo's words, the other elders in the great hall nodded one after another, clearly feeling that this ranking was far too low.

However, after a brief moment of shock, Lion Douluo was the first to calm down.

He bowed slightly toward Golden Crocodile Douluo and said respectfully:

"Second Elder, regardless of the ranking, being able to ascend this Strongest Power Ranking proves that your strength has been acknowledged by the Heavenly Dao."

"Furthermore, as long as one makes the list, they receive supreme rewards bestowed by the Heavenly Dao. For our Spirit Hall Empire, this is absolutely a joyous occasion."

"Congratulations to the Second Elder for making the list!"

Hearing Lion Douluo say this, the other elders in the hall reacted as well, bowing in succession.

"Congratulations to the Second Elder for making the list!"

However, faced with everyone's congratulations, there was not much excitement on Golden Crocodile Douluo's face.

"Although it is a joyous occasion, my heart remains uneasy."

Golden Crocodile Douluo sighed.

"I have cultivated for a hundred years and weathered countless storms; I know deep down just how murky the waters of this world truly are."

"If my level 98 cultivation can only rank 14th on this Strongest Power Ranking..."

Speaking to this point, Golden Crocodile Douluo paused, a flash of worry crossing his eyes.

"Then, what kind of people are those ranked ahead of me?"

"Could it be that there are terrifying existences hidden on this continent that we know nothing about?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo's words caused the atmosphere in the great hall to become oppressive.

Indeed.

A level 98 Super Douluo could only rank 14th.

Just how powerful must the thirteen people ranked ahead of him be?